Tuesday, May 24, 2011

CPI(M) demands 61 % quota for weaker sections in Andhra pradesh local bodies



The CPI (M) has demanded that the government continue 61 per cent reservation for weaker sections in the elections to the local bodies. The 61 per cent quota was implemented in the past three elections and efforts should be made to continue it in the forthcoming elections too by putting pressure on the Centre.

Speaking to reporters on the lines of the party's State secreteriate meeting on Monday, CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu said the State government should emulate the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments which implemented reservations in excess of 50 per cent for the BCs. Expressing concern over the problems faced by different sections, he criticised the government for not resuming its work after the by-elections in Kadapa district. AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad's visit to the State failed to activate the administrative machinery as the ruling party continued to be busy settling its internal squabbles. The Congress also failed to evolve an amicable resolution to the demand for and against bifurcation of the State.

Mr. Raghavulu expressed concern over the reports on the constitution of the second States Reorganisation Commission claiming it would result in “unnecessary complications”. The CPI (M) was firmly against the second SRC as it would give scope for demands for separate States across the country. “Where is the need for a new committee when the government has constituted Srikrishna Committee which submitted its report in time?” he asked.

(Source : The Hindu)