Turpu Kapu leaders press Centre for State-wide OBC recognition

The Turpu Kapu Samskshema Sangham has once again raised its voice for social justice, urging the Union government to grant Other Backward Classes (OBC) status to the Turpu Kapu community across the entire state of Andhra Pradesh.

National President Pisini Chandra Mohan, leading the delegation, met BJP OBC Morcha National President K. Lakshman and Rajya Sabha member G.V.L. Narasimha Rao in New Delhi on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Turpu Kapu Joint Action Committee leaders Girada Appala Swamy and Palla Venkata Rao. The team presented a detailed representation outlining the community’s historical, social, and economic conditions.

Speaking to The Coastal Times after the meeting, Chandra Mohan explained that at present the Turpu Kapu community is recognised as an OBC only in the North Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and parts of Visakhapatnam. In the rest of the State, members of the same community are excluded from the category, which he said has led to unequal opportunities.

“This is not just about classification; it’s about fairness,” Chandra Mohan said. “Our youth outside North Andhra are missing out on reservation benefits in Central government jobs and admissions to top national institutions. This has affected our community’s progress for decades.”

The memorandum submitted in Delhi sought urgent action from the Union government to extend OBC status uniformly across Andhra Pradesh. The delegation also urged completion of the ongoing socioeconomic survey, which is expected to be a decisive factor in policy formulation.

According to Chandra Mohan, both Mr. Lakshman and Narasimha Rao responded positively to the request and assured that the issue would be taken up with the concerned ministries. “We are hopeful that once the survey report is ready, the government will move swiftly to implement the change,” he said.

Turpu Kapu leaders have been making this demand for years, arguing that the community’s social and economic profile remains consistent across districts, and that regional classification has deprived thousands of students and job seekers of rightful benefits. With this latest push at the national level, the Sangham hopes to bridge a decades-old gap in recognition and opportunity.