Redbook against BC Voices

• Chandrababu government suppressing BC leaders
• Rule of intimidation through attacks and attempts on lives
• Excesses reaching a peak through false cases and illegal arrests
• Vindictive action against anyone who questions the government
• Jealousy and hostility towards politically rising BC leaders
• Chandrababu had earlier threatened to “cut the tails” of BC communities
• Now the “Red Book” is being used against the voices of weaker sections
• Former ministers and YSRCP leaders being targeted
• BCs described as the “backbone” in words, but betrayed in action
• Former Minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao arrested in a recently fabricated liquor case
• Karumuri Sunil, Jogi Ramesh, Seediri Appalaraju, Chintada Ravi, Uppala Harika and MLA Virupakshi — none have been spared
• Under Y.S. Jagan, BCs were treated as the “Backbone Classes”
• BC families were supported through DBT and non-DBT welfare programmes
• BCs were accorded political dignity through the posts of Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs and nominated positions
• Welfare benefits worth Rs. 1.73 lakh crore, along with several development initiatives, were implemented for BCs
• Under Chandrababu’s rule, BCs are instead facing discrimination and arrests at every step
• BC communities are recalling the inclusive governance of Y.S. Jagan
• They are looking forward to a government that will once again accord them priority and support

A case for questioning, an arrest for confronting the government, and an attack for politically rising: there appears to be no end to the “Red Book” vendetta against BC leaders under the coalition government. Former ministers, MLAs and YSRCP leaders are being subjected to a series of attacks, attempts on their lives, criminal cases and arrests, with the objective of suppressing politically emerging BC voices.

Karumuri Sunil, Jogi Ramesh, Seediri Appalaraju, Chintada Ravi, Uppala Harika and MLA Virupakshi are among those who have been subjected to such action. The manner in which political power is being used against one BC leader after another has caused concern across BC communities.

Most recently, former Minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao is being targeted in the name of a liquor case that did not exist, and he was arrested in Hyderabad.

Chandrababu Government’s Sword Over BC Labour and Leadership

Are BCs remembered only as votes during elections? Are they merely the workforce expected to carry others to power? Is the Chandrababu government’s answer to BCs who demand fulfilment of promises, question government failures, or emerge politically to suppress them through cases and intimidation?

The Yadava who tends sheep, the fisherman who ventures into the sea with his nets, the weaver who operates the loom, the Nayee Brahmin who works with his scissors, the Rajaka who washes clothes, the Vaddera who breaks stones, and the toddy tapper who risks his life climbing trees — these communities form the real backbone of the State’s economy.

Yet, criticism is mounting across Andhra Pradesh that under Chandrababu’s rule, BCs are receiving not power but humiliation; not support but suppression; not positions but police cases. A chronological examination of developments since the coalition came to power in 2024 strengthens the concern that these are not isolated incidents, but part of a political pattern aimed at weakening BC leaders who are emerging as strong voices in the Opposition.

Attacks, Cases and Arrests

• Even as the 2024 election results were being declared, TDP leaders allegedly attempted to demolish the house of YSRCP sympathiser Perugu Malyadri, belonging to a BC community, using a JCB at Vippagunta in Ponnaluru mandal of Prakasam district. When Malyadri and his wife Adilakshmi tried to stop them, an attempt was also made to attack them.
• In Chittoor district, a JCB belonging to YSRCP worker Krishnamurthy Yadav was taken away and the compound wall of his house was demolished. From the very next moment after the election victory, BC families were sent a message of fear and intimidation.

July 12, 2025: No Protection Even for a BC Woman ZP Chairperson?

• Krishna District ZP Chairperson Uppala Harika and her husband Ramu were travelling to attend a YSRCP meeting in Gudivada when TDP–Jana Sena workers stopped their car at Nagavarappadu Centre. The car windows were smashed and Harika was subjected to abuse despite being a woman. They were forced to remain inside the vehicle for nearly an hour.
• Instead of protecting those who had come under attack, the police registered a case against Harika’s husband Ramu and subjected him to further harassment. If even the first citizen of a district can face such treatment, what protection is available to an ordinary BC woman?

November 2, 2025: Action Against Jogi Ramesh

• Former Minister and BC leader Jogi Ramesh was arrested at his residence in Ibrahimpatnam, NTR district, by SIT, Excise and police teams in connection with the Mulakalacheruvu spurious-liquor case. His brother Jogi Ramu was also taken into custody, and both were sent to ten days of judicial remand.
• The action did not stop there. Another case relating to an incident at Vijayawada GGH was registered against Jogi Ramesh’s wife Shakuntala Devi and sons Rajeev and Rohit. The government’s conduct raised the question of whether the objective was not merely to target one political leader, but to drag his entire family into a web of cases.
• When imprisonment failed to silence Jogi Ramesh, his house itself became the target. On February 1, 2026, TDP workers pelted stones at his residence in Ibrahimpatnam and set the house on fire. Jogi Ramesh was in Tirupati at the time, while his wife and father were inside the house.
• Political statements must be answered politically. But can pelting stones and setting fire to a house occupied by family members be described as democratic politics?

June 18, 2026: Arrest of Karumuri Sunil

Former Minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao’s son Karumuri Sunil was arrested in Hyderabad by Enforcement Directorate officials on June 18 in connection with the Andhra Pradesh liquor transportation tenders case.

July 22, 2026: Seediri Appalaraju’s Family Targeted

On July 10, shepherd Danayya died in a road accident in the Palasa–Kashibugga area of Srikakulam district. In connection with the accident, police arrested former Minister Seediri Appalaraju’s son Aarav Varma. Although Seediri Appalaraju was not present at the accident site, he was made A-3 on the charge of tampering with evidence and was illegally arrested on July 22. Instead of restricting the case to provisions relating to a road accident, murder-related sections were invoked against him. While taking Seediri into custody, police pulled him by his shirt and manhandled his brother. After spending 24 days in remand, Seediri was granted bail on August 14.

August 2, 2026: Midnight Police Raid on Virupakshi’s Residence

Alur BC MLA Busine Virupakshi went to Nemakallu in Chippagiri mandal of Kurnool district after receiving a distress call from a party worker. At the spot, a TDP worker tore his own wife’s clothes and attempted to attack the MLA and his followers. Instead of stopping the violence, police reached the MLA’s residence at 2.45 am, broke open the doors, removed the hard disks of CCTV cameras and illegally arrested him.

In one case, 34 persons, including the MLA, were named as accused. Fourteen persons were named in another case and 12 in a third. Charges of attempt to murder and offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were invoked. When stones were hurled at the MLA while he had gone to console those affected, his brother Sriramudu was injured.

August 8, 2026: Attempt-to-Murder Case Against Chintada Ravikumar

During Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to Srikakulam jail to meet Seediri Appalaraju, a scuffle took place at Kottaroad. An illegal case was registered against Amadalavalasa YSRCP Coordinator Chintada Ravikumar and 21 others on the charge of assaulting a woman Sub-Inspector.

Chintada was named A-1 and taken into custody by Task Force police at Chilakapalem in Etcherla mandal on August 8. Visuals showing him asking people to move aside to protect the woman SI were portrayed as an attack, and an attempt-to-murder case was registered. While Chintada was on his way to surrender before police, his car was intercepted and he was made to walk on the road to the DSP office. The Chandrababu government acted with the objective of suppressing a politically rising BC leader.

August 23, 2026: Karumuri Nageswara Rao Arrested

Former Minister Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao was arrested by Enforcement Directorate officials at Kondapur in Hyderabad on August 23 in connection with the liquor transportation tenders case. He was taken to the ED office at Basheerbagh.

His son Sunil had already been arrested earlier. With the father now also taken into custody, the entire family has been brought under investigation.

Is Their Political Rise Their Only Crime?

Jogi Ramesh rose from the Gouda community to become a State-level political leader. Seediri Appalaraju emerged from the fishermen community as a doctor and later as a Minister. Karumuri Nageswara Rao rose from the Yadava community to the level of a Minister. Chintada Ravikumar, from the Kalinga community, is emerging as a strong political leader in North Andhra. Virupakshi, belonging to the Boya community, was elected as an MLA.

The Chandrababu government has targeted all these leaders and subjected them to harassment. Their only “offence” appears to be that they emerged politically from BC communities and strongly questioned the government.

One case after another is being filed against individual leaders, while their family members are also being dragged into legal proceedings, creating an attempt to weaken them financially, mentally and politically.

If the government genuinely possesses evidence, it should conduct transparent investigations and prove its case before the courts. But why break open doors in the middle of the night? Why deploy hundreds of police personnel? Why file repeated cases against family members? And why register counter-cases against those who themselves were attacked?

The Same Pattern from Then to Now

This is not a trend that began recently. In June 2018, temple Nayee Brahmins who came to the Velagapudi Secretariat seeking minimum wages and PF benefits faced the anger of then Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. His warning — “Are you playing games? If you act smart, I will cut your tails and teach you a lesson” — drew widespread criticism at the time. Then, Nayee Brahmins demanding their rights were threatened. Now, BC leaders questioning the government are facing cases and arrests. YSRCP said that while the language may have changed, the attitude towards BC voices has not.

Rs. 11,426 Crore Shortfall in Two Years

• During the 2024 elections, Chandrababu promised to spend Rs. 1.50 lakh crore under the BC Sub-Plan over five years.
• However, the government’s own expenditure figures reveal a substantial gap.
• In 2024–25, Rs. 18,593.45 crore was allocated, while Rs. 15,400.88 crore was spent.
• In 2025–26, Rs. 23,256.79 crore was allocated, while expenditure stood at Rs. 15,023.37 crore.
• Total allocation for the two years was Rs. 41,850.24 crore.
• Actual expenditure was Rs. 30,424.25 crore.
• The gap between allocation and expenditure was Rs. 11,425.99 crore.
• Under Adarana 3.0, Rs. 2,000 crore should have been provided over two years, but only Rs. 1,000 crore was shown, and even that amount was not spent.
• Major promises such as the Rs. 10,000 crore Special BC Bank, pension from the age of 50, and the BC Protection Act have also not been fully implemented.
• Even by August 2026, the BC Protection Bill remained at the draft and consultation stage. The government decided to send the draft to the National Commission for Backward Classes. This means that despite two years of attacks and humiliation against BCs, the promised protection law has still not come into force.

Y.S. Jagan Stood Firmly by BCs

• Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy implemented the BC Declaration he announced on February 15, 2019, and gave priority to BC welfare in accordance with his commitments.
• He transformed the concept of BCs from “Backward Classes” into “Backbone Classes,” advancing them economically, socially and politically. His government projected social justice not merely as welfare, but as a governing principle.
• When Chandrababu obstructed BC reservations in local bodies through litigation over the proposed 33 per cent quota, Y.S. Jagan ensured that BCs received an even greater share of political positions.
• In the 2024 elections, constituencies such as Mylavaram Assembly and Narasaraopet Lok Sabha, which had traditionally been seen as seats for forward communities, were allotted to BC candidates.
• The Vijayawada Mayor post, reserved for an OC woman, was given to Rayana Bhagyalakshmi, while Uppala Harika was given the Krishna Zilla Parishad Chairperson post, creating major opportunities for BC women.
• BC leaders were given the posts of Assembly Speaker and Deputy Chief Minister, along with 11 ministerial berths and MP positions.
• Of 38 MLC positions, 18 were given to BCs. BCs were also given nine Mayor posts and extensive representation among municipal chairpersons, corporators, councillors, ZPTCs and MPTCs, with representation reaching nearly 70 per cent in several local-body categories.

50% share in Nominated Posts and Nominated Works

• Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy brought legislation to provide 50 per cent reservation in nominated posts and works awarded through nomination to BCs and other socially disadvantaged sections. He also established a permanent BC Commission, a dedicated BC Directorate and an institutional mechanism for financial support.
• His government created 56 separate corporations covering 139 BC communities and initiated focused measures for their social and economic advancement.
• Y.S. Jagan also took the BC representation issue to Parliament by getting YSRCP MPs to introduce a Private Member’s Bill seeking 50 per cent reservation for BCs in legislative bodies.
• He demanded a separate Union Ministry and a dedicated budget for BCs. When BC organisations across the country demanded caste enumeration and the Centre had not acted, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly under his government passed a resolution seeking a caste census and forwarded it to the Union Government.
• Subsequently, the Union Government also moved towards a favourable position on caste enumeration.
• Without waiting for demands from toddy tappers, the Jagan government introduced YSR Geetha Karmika Bharosa, extending insurance protection and greater security to families dependent on toddy tapping.
• While Chandrababu had promised a Rs. 1,000 pension for handloom workers but restricted the beneficiary base, Jagan implemented YSR Nethanna Nestham, providing Rs. 24,000 annually to eligible weaver families. He also reduced the pension eligibility age and expanded social-security coverage for handloom workers.
• Through Navaratnalu and other welfare programmes, BC families received Rs. 1,22,451.82 crore through DBT and Rs. 50,657.39 crore through non-DBT benefits, taking the total reported benefit to Rs. 1,73,109.21 crore. This represented one of the largest welfare interventions for BC communities during his tenure.

Chandrababu, Why So Much Vendetta Against BCs?

• What action was taken against those who pelted stones at Jogi Ramesh’s house and set it on fire?
• Why were those who smashed the windows of Uppala Harika’s car spared, while a case was registered against the victim’s husband?
• Why was it necessary to break open the doors of MLA Virupakshi’s house in the middle of the night?
• Why were such serious criminal sections invoked against Seediri Appalaraju in connection with a road accident?
• Why are the complete videos relating to the attempt-to-murder case against Chintada Ravikumar not being made public?
• What is the purpose of dragging the family members of Jogi Ramesh and Karumuri Nageswara Rao into cases?
• Has political advancement by BC leaders become an offence under Chandrababu’s rule?
• Why was the BC Protection Act delayed for two years without being brought into force?
• Who is responsible for the Rs. 11,426 crore gap between BC welfare allocations and actual expenditure?
• Where is the implementation roadmap for the promise to spend Rs. 1.50 lakh crore under the BC Sub-Plan over five years?
• Are BCs remembered only as voters during elections and treated as communities to be threatened and booked in cases after power is secured?

BCs are Watching

Chandrababu relied on declarations in the name of BCs; Y.S. Jagan gave them positions of authority. Chandrababu made election promises; Jagan enacted laws to institutionalise political participation. Chandrababu once threatened to “cut tails”; Jagan described BCs not as “Backward Classes” but as the “Backbone Classes” of society.

Under Chandrababu’s rule, BC leaders are confronting attacks, criminal cases and arrests. Under Jagan’s government, BC leaders were seen as Deputy Chief Ministers, Assembly Speakers, Ministers, MPs, MLCs, Mayors, Zilla Parishad Chairpersons and Corporation Chairpersons.

The continuing developments reinforce the criticism that Chandrababu has treated BCs primarily as an electoral constituency rather than as genuine partners in power. BC communities are therefore demanding an end to political vendetta, attacks and coercive action against their leaders.