BC leaders seek caste census in Andhra Pradesh for fair representation in local bodies

Leaders of various backward class (BC) associations and political parties have urged the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government to conduct a comprehensive caste census in Andhra Pradesh and allocate seats to BCs in local bodies based on their population, following the model adopted in Telangana. The demand was raised at a roundtable meeting organised by the Communist Party of India (CPI) here on Sunday.

Representatives of BC associations, caste-based organisations, trade and employee unions, and political parties took part in the meeting. It was resolved to intensify the agitation for caste census through district-level roundtable conferences, representations to MLAs, and State-wide protests.

Presiding over the meeting, CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna pointed out that Bihar, Karnataka, and Telangana had already announced caste censuses, while Mr. Naidu, despite being a key NDA partner and claiming to run a “BC government,” had failed to act. He also warned that privatisation of public sector undertakings, including the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, would deprive SCs, STs, and BCs of jobs and weaken the reservation system.

Congress Working Committee member and former Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said Mr. Naidu must deliver on his manifesto promise of a caste census. He stressed that caste-wise enumeration of BCs, SCs, and STs was essential to ensure equal opportunities, since existing EWS reservations were benefitting only a limited section.

Speakers from BC organisations, including Keshana Shankar Rao, Alla Venkateswara Rao, and Muppalla Nageswara Rao, demanded 33% reservation for BCs in legislatures, protection of educational and employment opportunities, and a united struggle to secure constitutional justice. The meeting concluded with a resolution seeking caste census in the upcoming population enumeration and proportional reservation for BCs in local bodies.