BC bodies demand caste census before Andhra Pradesh local elections
By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu: Assistant Chief Editor
Vijayawada – Andhra Pradesh: Backward Class (BC) organisations under the Joint Action Committee staged a mega protest at Dharna Chowk on Monday, demanding that a caste census be conducted along with the population census before holding local body elections in Andhra Pradesh.
Demand for caste census and electoral justice
Addressing the protest, BC United National Front State President DM Obulesu Yadav said local elections must be postponed until a caste census is completed. He argued that without accurate data, BCs—who constitute over 60 percent of the population—continue to be denied fair political representation.
Allegations of government neglect
Yadav criticised the coalition government for failing to implement its promise of 34 percent reservation for BCs in legislatures and local bodies even after 19 months in power. He accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of making pre-election promises that remain unfulfilled.
Key demands raised
Protesters demanded immediate release of pending BC scholarships and stipends, abolition of EWS reservations benefiting upper castes, and 52 percent reservations for BCs. Warning of a statewide agitation, Yadav said BCs are being treated merely as a vote bank, unlike in Telangana, Karnataka and Bihar.
