Chandrababu in dilemma over BC reservation hike from 23% to 34%

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is caught in a bind over his 2024 election promise to raise BC reservation from 23.56% to 34%. A report by the Rajeev Ranjan committee, submitted recently, has recommended a hike only to 27.66%, citing constitutional and Supreme Court limits that cap total reservations at 50%.

The committee noted that BCs make up 50.26% of the state's population but said a 34% quota would face legal hurdles. To square the promise with the report, Naidu held a late-night meeting with key alliance leaders on Saturday. He proposed giving BCs full 34% quota in party tickets and nominated posts, while sticking to the committee's figure for government jobs.

The opposition is watching closely. Naidu must now navigate between fulfilling his poll pledge, respecting the committee's legal advice, and avoiding a political backlash from BC voters, who form a crucial vote bank. A final decision is expected after further consultations.