Andhra government will move Supreme Court on 34% BC quota in local bodies, says Naidu

The Andhra Pradesh government will appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision to strike down the orders providing 34% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday (October 1, 2026). He accused the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) of going to court against the quota.

Mr. Naidu said the YSRCP had filed petitions in the High Court challenging the government orders, arguing that reservations should not exceed 50%. He said, the court had struck down the orders.

The Cabinet had approved 34% reservation for BCs in rural local bodies and 33⅓% in urban local bodies on August 18. Mr. Naidu had then said local bodies stood to lose ₹12,150 crore in Central funds if elections were not held by October.

Addressing the ‘service to the poor’ programme at Repalle in Bapatla district, Mr. Naidu said that former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao had given political recognition to BCs and that he had introduced 34% reservation for BCs in local bodies in 1995.

He alleged that the previous YSRCP government had reduced the quota to 24%, resulting in 16,800 people losing opportunities to hold elected posts. He said the present government was seeking to restore the 34% reservation. Restoring it was one of the promises in the BC Declaration released by the TDP and the Jana Sena Party before the 2024 elections.

He said the coalition government’s objective was to improve the economic, social and political status of BCs and provide them opportunities to emerge as leaders.

Mr. Naidu also alleged that YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was trying, through his followers, to obstruct DSC teacher recruitment through court cases, and said the government would continue supporting BCs.

Referring to the local leadership, he praised former Minister Anagani Bhagavanth Rao and said Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad was working for the people.

He said the coalition government would continue creating opportunities for BCs to participate in political and local-body leadership.