The Chandrababu Naidu government has taken a key decision on BC reservations for local body elections in Andhra Pradesh. In the cabinet meeting chaired by Chandrababu Naidu today, the cabinet approved the recommendations made by the Rajiv Ranjan Mishra Commission.

According to the details approved by the cabinet, the percentages of new BC reservations for various posts in local bodies have been finalized. In this, 35.29 percent reservation will be applicable for mayors, 33.02 percent for municipal chairpersons, and 32.78 percent for urban ward members. Similarly, 27.95 percent quota has been allocated for sarpanches, 25.55 percent for MPTCs, and 24.60 percent for MPPs and ZPTCs. Only 23.08 percent reservation will be implemented for ZP chairpersons.

The decision assumes significance in the wake of the Supreme Court's rejection of the government's proposal to provide 34 percent reservation to BCs in local body elections. Ministers said that these reservations have been finalized to benefit BCs in accordance with the rules, respecting the court's verdict. They said that these are better than the reservations implemented by the previous government. The government has made it clear that while providing reservations as per the law, it will ensure that the total benefit of 34 percent goes to BCs through seat sharing among the coalition parties.