In a move to woo Kapu voters, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced 5% reservation to Kapus, out of the 10% reservations for the economically weaker sections. This announcement comes ahead of the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh at a time when the Kapu vote bank is sliding away from the TDP to Jana Sena Party and YSR Congress.
“We have requested the Government of India to extend 5 % reservation to the Kapu community long ago. But, BJP government is not agreeing. Now, we have decided that out of the 10% reservation provided by the Centre to the economically weaker sections, we will give 5% to Kapus and the balance to the EWS,” the chief minister said, speaking at a teleconference with TDP leaders.
The Telugu Desam Government’s decision comes after it had moved a Bill in the Legislative Assembly to provide 5% reservation to Kapus, including three sub-castes. Following this, the State had sent this Bill to the Centre, feeling a constitutional amendment to include Kapus in BCs under Schedule IX and validate the quote which would be over the 50% reservation cap as restricted by the Supreme Court.
The Centre, however, did not accept the State’s Kapu Reservation Bill stating that it exceeds the 50% quota and violates the constitution. This announcement, according to political observers, is a masterstroke by Chandrababu Naidu ahead of state elections in his bid to split the Kapu vote bank.
