Backward Classes body demands proportional representation in local body elections

Visakhapatnam, [Date]: The National Backward Classes Welfare Association (NBCWA) has urged political parties to allocate more seats to Backward Classes (BCs) in municipal, Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC), and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) elections, proportionate to their population in respective areas.

Addressing a press conference in Vizianagaram on Sunday, NBCWA Andhra Pradesh General Secretary Burli Seetham Naidu said the association would hold a conclave in Visakhapatnam soon to highlight issues including BC representation in local bodies, reservation for BCs in Parliament, state assemblies, and other legislative bodies, as well as national-level OBC reservation.

Mr. Naidu stated that NBCWA National President R. Krishnaiah and State President Madduluru Subhash Yadav would attend the conclave to present these demands to the government. He called for the government to conduct a census count of BCs, claiming that the population of BCs in the state exceeds 70%.

He also requested that the BC Dedicated Commission Chairman, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, recommend political reservation for all 138 BC communities in Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Naidu added that the party had appointed new committees for Vizianagaram district and its assembly constituencies to unite backward classes across the state.

The NBCWA’s demand comes amid ongoing debates about political representation for backward classes in India. Currently, reservations in legislative bodies exist only for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, while Backward Classes have reservations in education and government jobs but not in elected bodies at the national or state level. Some states provide reservation in local body elections based on population.