Vijayawada
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said his party has an “inseparable bond” with the Backward Classes (BCs).
The former chief minister’s remark assumes significance in the wake of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy prioritizing and including 10 BCs in his new cabinet.
In a statement on Monday, Mr Naidu said BCs enjoyed 34% reservation in local bodies for over 26 years, only because of the TDP’s commitment to their social cause and political empowerment. “The development of BC has always been in the DNA of TDP. With unwavering commitment, TDP has been making all efforts for the political awareness, socio-economic and political progress of BC for the last 40 years,” said Mr.
The TDP president said it was an indisputable fact that the TDP has always been “defined as the party of the BC”. The TDP had sparked a nationwide debate on the importance of backward classes, he said, adding that the TDP recognized the importance of BCs and gave them the posts of VCs in nine of the 16 universities. He said the TDP regime had provided tools for the craftsmen and artisans under the ‘Adarna’ programme.
The TDP chief also paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary. Jyotiba Phule’s dedication towards establishing an egalitarian society will never be forgotten. He had always strived for the empowerment of women,” said Mr. Naidu.