BCs, Minorities Get Raw Deal in TDP’s Seat Allocation 

Tadepalli: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is contesting 151 seats in the forthcoming elections to the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu released the party’s first list of candidates for the upcoming elections. Among other communities, Naidu has turned his back on BC and minority communities. 

Out of the 94 declared seats, the opposition TDP has allotted 20 seats to the Kammas which is a prominent caste in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The party has given 18 seats to BCs, 20 for SCs, 7 for Kapus and only one seat for Muslim minorities who constitute 10-15% of the population.

Early this year, the TDP launched a ‘Jai Ho BC’ campaign to reiterate its commitment for the political empowerment of the community. During the TDP regime from 2014-19, the party did not nominate even a single BC member to Rajya Sabha of parliament. The poor and marginalised sections were also ignored by the then government. 

In the past, the Nayee Brahmin community had faced the wrath of Naidu when they pleaded with him to recognise them as contract employees and ensure minimum wages to them. He had warned them of “clipping their wings” if they persist with their demand of ‘minimum wages’. Similarly, the TDP regime had also threatened the fishermen community. 

Furthermore, Naidu had promised to give 40% tickets to youth in the upcoming elections. After the release of first list of candidates, the party’s youth leaders are now questioning the leadership about the promise made to them. 

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