TDP plans separate manifesto for BCs

Amaravati: The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is planning a separate manifesto for the Backward Classes for the next year’s elections to Andhra Pradesh Assembly.

TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh on Friday said the party will launch a separate programme on January 4 in the name of “Jayaho BC” to know the problems being faced by the people of Backward Classes in the state. He told mediapersons at the party headquarters here that the party will hold a workshop under the leadership of the TDP supremo and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, to discuss steps on how to move on the “Jayaho BC” programme.

Meetings will be also organised at all the headquarters of each Lok Sabha constituency, Assembly segment and mandal followed by a massive public meeting at state-level where the separate manifesto for Backward Classes will be released.

“During my Yuva Galam pada yatra, I have personally come to know the issues being faced by the Backward Classes and the party has decided to get the first-hand information on their problems they are facing in the mandals that I have not covered during my pada yatra,” Lokesh added. Observing that the TDP is the birthplace for the Backward Classes, he recalled how the party founder, late N T Rama Rao, encouraged the community by allocating key portfolios.

While late NTR provided 24 per cent reservation for the Backward Classes, Chandrababu Naidu, who succeeded him, increased the quota to 34 per cent. Pointing out the budgetary allocations made during the TDP regime for Backward Classes, and the several welfare schemes launched for their progress, Lokesh termed the Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy as a traitor of Backward Classes.