Right from the inception of Telugu Desam Party, backward classes have been its backbone. Especially during the N T Rama Rao regime, the BCs extensively supported the party, because for the first time in the country, NTR provided 33 per cent reservation to BCs in all the local bodies.
But now, the BCs seem to be moving away from the TDP, thanks to the pro-upper caste policies adopted by present party president N Chandrababu Naidu.
Especially, Naidu’s own community has been calling shots in the party, garnering all the key positions, at the cost of the BCs.
The recent selection of two candidates for the Rajya Sabha seats – Sujana Chowdary and T G Venkatesh – both representing upper castes, has caused a lot of unrest among the BCs.
On Thursday, the BCs belonging to former MLA K E Prabhakar, who also belongs to the TDP, took out a big rally in Kurnool, alleging that Naidu had been ignoring the BCs. The humiliation meted out SC leader J R Pushparaj has also added fuel to the fire.
Analysts say if Naidu continues to adopt this policy, he would have to face severe backlash from the BCs in the next elections.
