Committed to BC Reservations in Local Body Polls: Partha Sarathy

Andhra Pradesh Minister Kolusu Partha Sarathy has reiterated the government's commitment to providing 34 per cent reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections. He said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) would ensure adequate political opportunities for BCs even if legal hurdles arise. Speaking to the media following the Supreme Court's ruling on BC reservations, the minister said the court had called for a legally sound approach but had not directed the government to deny reservations.

Partha Sarathy warned that delays in conducting local body elections could lead to the withholding of funds from the Central Finance Commission. He said the BC census would be completed and approved at the earliest, after which reservations would be provided. The minister also criticised the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), alleging that it lacked faith in democracy. He claimed that the party's MLAs had not attended the Assembly over the past two and a half years to raise public issues and accused the party of showing little respect for elections.