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Andhra Pradesh HC Strikes Down 34% BC Quota, Setback for Naidu Government
M
Moneycontrol•01-10-2026, 14:19
Andhra Pradesh HC Strikes Down 34% BC Quota, Setback for Naidu Government
- •The Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down two government orders providing 34% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections.
- •The court ruled the quota violated Supreme Court guidelines capping total reservations at 50%, a setback for the Chandrababu Naidu-led government.
- •Increasing BC reservation was a key promise by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) during the 2024 elections, aiming to raise it from 20% to 34%.
- •The High Court directed the state government and State Election Commission to initiate the local body election process within six weeks.
- •The court also rejected a YSRCP petition to delay elections over ward delimitation, stating it was not a valid reason for postponement.
Key Questions Answered
The Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down the government orders providing a 34% reservation for Backward Classes because it violated Supreme Court guidelines that cap total reservations at 50%_.
The court directed the state government and the State Election Commission to begin the local body election process within six weeks and publish the final voter list according to schedule_.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the quota to fulfil a 2024 election promise, arguing that BC communities make up 50.54% of the population and that the increased reservation was necessary to ensure social justice_.
