The cat is out of the bag and the ball is not in the centre’s court anymore. The Central government last week announced its green signal to the legislation passed during the previous Telugu Desam Party government when Chandrababu Naidu was the CM.
This is related to the provision of 5 per cent reservation to Kapus under the category of Economically Weaker Sections. The same was stated by the union minister of state for social justice Pratima Bhoumik in reply to Bharatiya Janata Party MP G V L Narasimha Rao in Rajya Sabha, that the legislation cleared by AP state assembly in 2019 stands valid.
Moreover, the state doesn’t need the centre's ratification to provide reservations under the EWS category. The Centre also added that as per the 105th Constitutional amendment bill passed last year in the Parliament, the state governments can finalize their own list when it comes to the EWS category communities. On one hand, this assertion from the Centre may have cleared the decks for provision of a five per cent quota for Kapus.
But this is easier said than done. Politically, BC’s who were once the stronghold of TDP have been distancing themselves from the yellow party and these days they are more aligned with YSRCP and this is one more reason for Jagan’s unstoppable march. Even when this legislation was passed by the TDP government, BCs opposed it tooth and nail that this may eat into their rights sooner or later.
The YSRCP government has stated till date that this bill is in the centre's court. After the latest clarification, Jagan might be able to take a positive decision to endear himself to Kapus. However, this may not be the case too since Jagan may listen to the concerns of the BC community who matter a lot politically now in AP. If Babu insists on its implementation, TDP very well knows that it will alienate many
BC voters and at the same time if it doesn’t ask for its implementation, Kapus will not vote en masse.
Rather than Jagan, who is known for taking clear stand on many issues, the wavering master that is Chandrababu may find it tough to handle this issue politically before the crucial election year in Andhra Pradesh. He has to walk a very challenging balancing act, which is easier said than done.
