Odisha Election: BJD Announces 27% OBC Reservation In Party For Upcoming Polls

BJD will begin OBC reservation from next year's Panchayat elections. The party has also asked other political parties to give tickets to socially and educationally backward classes.

BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik

OBC Reservation: In Odisha, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has made a big announcement about its party candidates in all future elections in the state. The BJD led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided that the party will field 27 percent of the candidates from the OBC category in all future elections in the state. The party will start this with next year's Panchayat elections. 

Ranendra Pratap Swain, Minister of Department of Food and Civil Supplies in Government of Odisha, and Arun Sahu, Minister of Higher Education and Agriculture, informed about their party's decision at a joint press conference. Both ministers come from OBC category. "BJD President Naveen Patnaik has decided to field 27 percent candidates from the OBC community in the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections," Sahu told reporters. He also said, "Other political parties in the state should also dare to give tickets to socially and educationally backward OBC candidates."

Ranendra Pratap Swain told this a historic day for people of Odisha

Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said, "This is a historic day for the people of Odisha. The BJD government in the state has decided to reserve 27 percent of its party's tickets for the socially and educationally backward OBC category in all future elections. It will begin with next year's Panchayat elections. At the same time, BJD will be the first party in the country to reserve its seats for the OBC category in elections."

Ranendra Pratap Swain also said, "BJD had earlier fielded women candidates on behalf of the party in 33 percent of the seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well. Other parties should also reserve 33 percent of their party's seats for women candidates in assembly and Lok Sabha elections."

BJD MP met Home Minister Amit Shah over increase in OBC reservation

Just a few days ago, a delegation of BJD MPs met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The delegation had submitted a memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a law to increase OBC reservation in Odisha. The party's decision came after the BJD submitted a memorandum to Amit Shah which could give the party strategic advantage in panchayat elections.  

Odisha had also given OBC reservations in 2013 and 2017

Odisha had also given OBC reservation in 27 percent seats in the state municipal elections in 2013 and also in the 2017 three-tier panchayat elections. As a result, the reservation quota in the elections had reached about 65 percent. The Orissa High Court, while hearing a petition filed in this regard, had directed all parties that the quota of reservation in state elections should not go exceed the limit of 50 percent.