Nizamabad: Cutting across party lines, Backward Classes leaders in undivided Nizamabad district are planning to conduct a joint public meeting in the first week of February, seeking fair share of seats and posts from political parties.
They note that the representation of BC leaders in legislature and cabinet has reduced after formation of the Telangana state. In the recent assembly elections too, BC leaders were ignored by major political parties while selecting their candidates and in the filling up of various posts.
Undivided Nizamabad district had the dominance of BC leaders for the last five decades. Argul Rajaram and T Bala Goud played key roles in the cabinet of undivided Andhra Pradesh. During the Congress and Telugu Desam rules, BC leaders got prominence in the government. Senior MLAs D Srinivas, Nerella Anjaneyulu served as cabinet ministers in united AP cabinets.
It was a tradition during the last four decades to maintain a social balance in cabinet berths. BC and OC MLAs got minister posts.
Madhu Goud Yashki was elected twice as Nizamabad MP as BCs wholeheartedly supported him. After formation of the Telangana state, the then TRS government set aside the BC minister for the undivided Nizamabad district.
In the first term, Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy was made minister while in the second term Balkonda MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy from the district got that honour.
Senior-most BC MLAs Gampa Govardhan and Bajireddy Govardhan were unable to get cabinet minister posts and they had to be satisfied with the posts of government whip and TSRTC chairman respectively.
Shockingly, the Congress party did not give MLA tickets to BC leaders in the recent assembly elections. BRS fielded sitting BC MLAs Bajireddy Govardhan and Jajala Surender from Nizamabad rural and Yellareddy assembly constituencies, but they lost.
In this context, BC leaders decided to hold a meeting in Nizamabad demanding their fair share in government and party positions. National OBC leader, former PCC president V Hanumantha Rao, ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Konda Surekha, former MLAs and MLCs have been invited for the meeting.
They will express their views on representation of BC leaders from Nizamabad district, sources said.
