Jagan accuses Chandrababu Naidu of betraying BCs over 34% reservation
Synopsis
The Supreme Court's dismissal of Andhra Pradesh's plea defending 34% BC reservation in local bodies handed Jagan Mohan Reddy a sharp political weapon — and he used it within hours. His 'Mr 420' broadside against Naidu signals that BC betrayal will be YSRCP's loudest charge going into local elections, putting the Telugu Desam Party on the back foot on a constituency it was actively courting.
Key Takeaways
Jagan Mohan Reddy accused CM Chandrababu Naidu of betraying Backward Classes over the failed 34% local body reservation promise.
The Supreme Court on 9 October dismissed the state's plea against the Andhra Pradesh High Court order that struck down the quota.
The High Court ruled on 1 October that the 34% BC quota breached the 50% ceiling on total reservations.
Naidu had announced 34% rural and 33.33% urban BC reservation on 18 August .
Jagan also cited pending dues of nearly ₹9,000 crore under Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena as additional evidence of broken promises.
The ruling forces the Naidu government to either redesign the reservation framework or pursue a constitutional amendment.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday, 9 October launched a sharp attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of betraying Backward Classes (BCs) by failing to deliver on a promise of 34% reservation in local body elections. The criticism came hours after the Supreme Court dismissed the state government's plea challenging an Andhra Pradesh High Court ruling that struck down the quota.
Jagan's Allegations Against Naidu
In a post on X, the former Chief Minister called Naidu 'Mr 420 when it comes to making promises to people from every section and then cheating them.' Jagan directly addressed Naidu: 'You promised 34% reservations for BCs in local bodies, lured them with that promise and betrayed them. The Supreme Court's verdict has now exposed this deception. Once again, you have been exposed as a cheater.'
Jagan further broadened the attack, alleging multiple instances of broken commitments. 'Your Super Six and Super Seven promises are another deception. Cancelling the schemes people received under our government was another. Leaving nearly ₹9,000 crore due under Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena is yet another grave betrayal,' he wrote. He also called Naidu's 143-point manifesto 'the biggest deception of all' and demanded a public apology to the BC community.
The Supreme Court and High Court Rulings
The Supreme Court on 9 October dismissed the Andhra Pradesh state government's plea that sought to overturn the High Court's order. On 1 October, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had struck down two government orders providing 34% reservation for BCs in local body elections, holding that the quota breached the 50% ceiling on total reservations as laid down by the Supreme Court's own guidelines. The High Court ruled that the aggregate reservation across all categories in local bodies must not exceed 50%.
How the Reservation Promise Was Made
Chief Minister Naidu had announced the enhanced quota on 18 August, stating that BCs would receive 34% reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33% reservation in urban local bodies. The announcement was widely seen as a political outreach to the numerically significant BC community ahead of local elections. Critics, including Jagan, argue that the quota was announced without adequate legal groundwork, making it vulnerable to judicial scrutiny.
Political Context and What Comes Next
This is not the first time BC reservation has become a flashpoint in Andhra Pradesh politics. The issue carries considerable electoral weight given the size and diversity of communities classified under the BC category in the state. The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene now forces the Naidu government to either seek a constitutional amendment pathway — a lengthy and uncertain route — or redesign the local body reservation framework to stay within the 50% cap. Jagan's remarks signal that the YSRCP intends to keep BC grievances at the centre of its opposition strategy. All eyes will be on Naidu's response and whether the government charts a fresh legal or legislative course.
Point of View
But the absence of a legal-feasibility check before the announcement now looks like an elementary oversight. The 50% ceiling is not new law; it has been settled doctrine since the Supreme Court's Indra Sawhney judgment of 1992. Announcing a quota that structurally exceeds this cap, only to have it struck down within weeks, hands the opposition a ready-made narrative of political deception. Whether Jagan can convert that narrative into durable BC support — especially given YSRCP's own governance record on welfare disbursements — remains the real question.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Supreme Court dismiss Andhra Pradesh's reservation plea?
The Supreme Court on 9 October dismissed the state government's plea challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court order that struck down 34% BC reservation in local bodies. The High Court had ruled that the quota breached the settled 50% ceiling on total reservations, a principle established by long-standing Supreme Court guidelines.
What did Jagan Mohan Reddy say about Chandrababu Naidu on the reservation issue?
Jagan Mohan Reddy called Naidu 'Mr 420' in a post on X, accusing him of luring Backward Classes with a 34% reservation promise and then betraying them. He also demanded that Naidu apologise to the BC community and cited additional broken promises including unpaid dues under Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena.
When and how did Chandrababu Naidu announce the 34% BC reservation?
Chief Minister Naidu announced the enhanced quota on 18 August, promising 34% reservation for BCs in rural local bodies and 33.33% in urban local bodies. The announcement was aimed at the politically significant Backward Classes constituency ahead of local elections.
What happens to BC reservation in Andhra Pradesh local bodies now?
With both the High Court ruling upheld and the Supreme Court refusing to intervene, the 34% BC quota stands struck down. The Naidu government must either redesign the reservation framework to stay within the 50% total cap or pursue a constitutional amendment, which is a lengthy and uncertain process.
What are Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena?
Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena are welfare schemes introduced during Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, providing fee reimbursement and hostel stipends respectively to students from low-income families. Jagan alleged that nearly ₹9,000 crore due under these schemes has been left unpaid by the Naidu government.
