YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy announced that he cannot assure reservations to Kapus if he was elected to power. However, he said that he would compensate for it by increasing the funds for Kapu Corporation, meant for the welfare of the community.

Speaking at a public meeting on Saturday at Jaggampeta, East Godavari district as part of his Praja Sankalpa Yatra, he said, “I won’t make any false promises. I will promise only what I can fulfill,” The New Indian Express quoted him saying.

Attacking Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for making false promises on reservations and saying that reservations come under the ambit of Centre, he said, “The issue is in the hands of the Centre. There have been instances in which reservation given by states was struck down.’’

He also alleged that Naidu went back on his other promise of allocating Rs 5,000 crore for the Kapu Corporation in five years, and assured that he will allocate Rs 10,000 crore to Kapu Corporation if voted to power. “But I can’t assure you that I will extend reservation to Kapus,’’ the YSRCP chief said.

Reservations for Kapus is one of the major, long-standing demands of the Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh. Reservation for Kapus was one of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s poll promises but is yet to be fulfilled.

The demand intensified under Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham. Last December, after several violent protests, the government gave 5% reservations to the Kapus by creating a separate ‘F’ category in the list of Backward Classes. This ensured reservation in education for the Kapu communities of Telaga, Balija and Ontari.

Though the government had given 5% reservation, Padmanabham had expressed disappointment and demanded 10% reservation. He even announced protests against the government’s decision.