Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu said the TDP has a long record of empowering BC communities and accused the YSRCP of politicising corruption cases and weakening BC representation.
Mangalagiri: Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu on Tuesday described Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as a strong champion of Backward Classes (BC) self-respect and empowerment, while accusing the YSRCP of portraying legal action against its leaders as political vendetta.
Addressing the media at the TDP Central Office, Atchannaidu said the Telugu Desam Party had a long history of promoting the political, social and economic empowerment of BC communities. He alleged that the opposition was attempting to give a political colour to investigations into corruption cases involving its leaders.
Atchannaidu recalled that TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao introduced 20 per cent political reservations for BCs in local bodies in 1984. He said Chandrababu Naidu subsequently increased the quota to 34 per cent in 1995 to provide greater political representation.
The Minister alleged that the previous YSRCP government reduced the quota to 24 per cent in 2019, resulting in the loss of more than 16,000 political positions for BC communities.
He also criticised the previous government over its BC corporations, alleging that although 54 corporations were established, adequate funds and basic infrastructure were not provided. He further alleged that equipment distributed under the TDP government's Adarana scheme was left unused in government warehouses.
Responding to criticism over recent arrests, Atchannaidu said the arrest of former minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao was carried out by the Enforcement Directorate and therefore should not be attributed to the State government.
He similarly said legal action against former minister Jogi Ramesh was connected to investigations into alleged liquor-related irregularities. He rejected allegations that the coalition government was using such cases for political revenge.
Defending the government's approach to the so-called Red Book, Atchannaidu said taking action against individuals accused of wrongdoing through established legal procedures should not be equated with political vendetta.
Atchannaidu alleged that several BC leaders faced politically motivated cases during the YSRCP government's tenure between 2019 and 2024. He referred to his own imprisonment and cited cases involving TDP leaders including Kollu Ravindra, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Ayyanna Patrudu.
He alleged that the previous government had used its political power against opposition leaders and demanded accountability for what he described as misuse of government machinery.
Atchannaidu said the NDA coalition government was working to restore 34 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies. He said the government was pursuing the matter in the High Court and was prepared to approach the Supreme Court if required.
He maintained that restoration of BC representation would not affect existing reservations for SCs, STs and minorities.
Atchannaidu said the TDP was founded on the principle of empowering BC communities and asserted that the coalition government would continue efforts to ensure that BCs receive meaningful representation and decision-making authority.
