BC candidates get a raw deal

Hyderabad

March 25: Though “social justice” is the main plank of all political parties in the state, they are fielding candidates from Backward Classes from “unwinnable” seats, much to the anguish of BC unions.
As many as 26 BC unions, which are furious over the “indifferent attitude” of the
political parties have decided to expose their ‘conspiracy’ by observing a ‘state bandh’ this week.
The unions claimed that while the surveys undertaken by various political parties suggested that BC candidates have the edge in 60 Assembly constituencies across the state, the parties are fielding them from other constituencies.
Several parties are offering seats to BCs from constituencies such as Karwan,
Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Yakutpura and Rajendranagar, where Muslim population is more and the chances of winning are remote.
“This is nothing but insulting the Backward Classes. Why can’t these parties field candidates from upper castes for such constituencies,” said Mr R. Krishnaiah, president of the Backward Classes United Front.
“As of now, only the Congress has announced the entire candidates list. The other parties are yet to complete the process. But given the current situation, we don’t expect other parties to offer ‘winnable seats’ to BCs. We will give a call for a state bandh after the lists of all major political parties are out,” Mr Krishnaiah said.
The unions are also angry at the decision of parties to field weak candidates in several constituencies apart from not allotting seats to BCs in Adilabad and Kadapa districts by the Congress.