*Chandrababu betrayed BCs with a hollow 34% reservation promise*

Vijayanagaram, Oct 9: YSRCP MLC and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Botcha Satyanarayana accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of deceiving BCs with his promise of 34 per cent reservations in local body elections. Speaking to the media at the party’s district office, he said the Supreme Court’s ruling had exposed the government’s failure to follow a lawful process.

“If Chandrababu is sincere about BCs, why has he not asked the Centre to pursue a constitutional amendment? He is part of the double-engine government and has met the Prime Minister. Why did he not raise the BC reservation issue? Making promises and issuing orders that cannot stand in court is not justice for BCs,” Botcha said.

He said the government must take clear, lawful steps to fulfil its promise instead of blaming the Opposition. BCs should not be treated as people who will believe any promise made to them. Botcha said the YSRCP was ready for an open debate on the opportunities given to BCs by each government. During YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure, he said, BCs received significant representation in local bodies and nominated posts. Party tickets, he added, are not a substitute for legal reservations.

Botcha said the YSRCP was ready to contest local body elections whenever they are held and had never sought to delay them. He mocked the ruling party for backing away from its promise.

He also urged the government to address people’s daily problems instead of focusing only on election politics. Vegetable prices had risen by 62 per cent in two years, he said, and the government must act to make essential goods affordable.