The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved 34% reservation for the Backward Classes (BCs) in the rural local bodies and 33⅓% in urban local bodies.

The Cabinet also decided to expedite the conduct of local body elections to enable the State to access funds due from the Centre.

“Local bodies stand to lose ₹12,150 crore if the process is not completed by October,” Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu cautioned while chairing the Cabinet meeting.

Mr. Naidu underscored the need for conducting elections to the urban and rural local bodies with BC reservations in accordance with applicable legal provisions.

“There will be no change in the existing reservations for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes,” the Chief Minister said.

Asking the officials to complete the process at the earliest and cautioning of the financial implications if elections were delayed beyond October, the Chief Minister directed that the proposed merger of 23 municipalities facing legal issues be taken up only after the local body elections.

In another significant decision, the Cabinet approved direct elections to key urban local body posts. Mayors of municipal corporations and chairpersons of municipalities and nagar panchayats would henceforth be elected directly by voters instead of through the existing indirect system.

Reorganisation of ZPs

The Cabinet also decided to reorganise the existing 13 Zilla Praja Parishads into 28 Zilla Parishads, in line with the State’s district reorganisation, and approved initiating the necessary exercise for constituting the new bodies.

After completing the Cabinet agenda, Mr. Naidu reviewed several other issues and directed the Ministers and officials to take measures to control prices amid rising inflation. He also asked the Ministers to respond effectively to negative comments appearing on the social media.

On the liquor policy, Mr. Naidu directed the committee concerned to ensure that liquor brands with objectionable or bizarre names were not approved. He also ordered strict action against illegal transportation of sand in containers.

Published - August 18, 2026 07:41 pm IST