Repalle, Andhra Pradesh, October 1, 2026 (Journalist File): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the state government would approach the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s decision on the 34 per cent reservation for Backward Classes in local body elections. Addressing a public meeting in Repalle on Thursday during the distribution of NTR Bharosa pensions, Naidu said his government would continue to support the political, social and economic advancement of BC communities.
The Chief Minister said his government had introduced 34 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies and would pursue the matter through the courts following the High Court ruling. He said the government’s objective was to ensure greater political representation and economic opportunities for backward communities.
Naidu also accused the previous YSR Congress government of reducing the level of reservation and said this had affected opportunities for thousands of BC candidates. He said the present government would continue its efforts to expand opportunities for BC leaders in local governance.
The Chief Minister said his government had been conducting the NTR Bharosa pension programme on the first day of every month and that he had personally participated in the programme for the past 28 months. He said he viewed the Chief Minister’s position as a responsibility to remain connected with ordinary citizens and understand their problems.
Naidu said the government was following a schedule of regular public-facing programmes covering pensions, land-related services, the Swachh Andhra initiative and the proposed Sanjeevani healthcare programme. He said these initiatives were intended to strengthen social security, resolve land disputes, improve environmental conditions and expand access to healthcare.
The Chief Minister said the government was working to improve living standards rather than viewing welfare merely as financial assistance. He said the state had spent about Rs.76,000 crore on pensions and was implementing several welfare schemes aimed at different sections of society.
He said the government was also focusing on capital expenditure and infrastructure development to create the conditions for economic growth. Residential plots worth about Rs.52,000 crore had been distributed to beneficiaries in different parts of the state, he said.
Naidu said the government had supported women through programmes including Stree Shakti and other sector-specific initiatives and had helped about one lakh members of self-help groups become entrepreneurs. The government aimed to extend such opportunities to another five lakh women, he said.
The Chief Minister said the state was pursuing a combination of welfare and development, with infrastructure projects being taken up in urban and rural areas. He referred to road works, irrigation projects, railway infrastructure, ports and airports as part of the government's broader development programme.
He said the government was working to strengthen irrigation in Rayalaseema through projects including Handri-Neeva and Velugonda. He also referred to the use of water from the Godavari through Pattiseema to support the Krishna delta and said completion of the Polavaram project would further strengthen water availability for the Krishna and Godavari delta regions.
Naidu said the government planned to undertake 36 projects with an estimated investment of Rs.35,000 crore over the next three years. He also said development would have to be accompanied by environmental protection and called for increasing green cover across the state.
The Chief Minister announced plans to develop Rayalaseema and adjoining areas, including Prakasam district, as a global horticulture hub with an estimated investment of Rs.1 lakh crore. He said the initiative would encompass horticulture, logistics, tourism and other related sectors.
He also spoke about plans to develop Suryalanka Beach in Bapatla as a major tourism destination and said the government wanted to attract more visitors and create a prominent tourism landmark in the region.
Naidu said the government was also focusing on improving public administration through employee skill development and digital governance. He referred to the Centre's iGOT Mission Karmayogi programme and said government employees in Andhra Pradesh had completed millions of online courses.
The Chief Minister said the government was using technology to improve public services, including WhatsApp-based governance and digital land records. He said blockchain technology was being used to strengthen the security of revenue records and that the government was implementing the Resurvey 2.0 programme to address long-standing land disputes.
Naidu said around 5.5 lakh houses had already been completed and handed over to poor families, with another 5.5 lakh houses planned. He said digital technologies were helping reduce the time required to deliver several public services.
The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh needed to make full use of emerging opportunities in technology, data centres, infrastructure and industry. He reiterated his commitment to the long-term Swarna Andhra 2047 vision and said the government's focus was on raising the income, health and overall quality of life of the most disadvantaged sections of society.
Minister Anagani Satya Prasad, MP Krishna Prasad, former minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana and other leaders attended the programme.
The NTR Bharosa pension programme is also reflected in the state government's official pension dashboard, which records monthly pension disbursement data for October 2026.
