BC Quota: Big Setback for CBN Govt.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down the state government’s decision to provide 34% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections, saying the overall reservation cannot cross the 50% ceiling laid down in Supreme Court guidelines. The ruling comes just weeks after the Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government announced the enhanced BC quota, fulfilling one of its key 2024 election promises.

The government, however, is not backing down. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to immediately approach the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court order. The High Court has also directed the state government and the State Election Commission to begin the process for local body elections within six weeks. This puts the government in a race against time—while it prepares its legal challenge over the BC quota, it must also move ahead with the election process.

The 34% BC reservation was announced by Naidu on August 18, with 34% proposed for rural local bodies and 33.33% for urban local bodies. The government had described the move as a major step towards greater BC representation in local governance. Now, the Supreme Court will have the next word on whether the enhanced reservation can survive the 50% ceiling.