The BJD, which will celebrate its silver jubilee on Sunday, announced on Saturday that it would reserve 40% seats for OBC candidates in the upcoming pnchayat and municipal elections in the State.
The party State executive unanimously took the decision after deliberations on a resolution moved by party general secretary (organisation) Pranab Prakash Das and later it was approved by party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The party said it has taken a “historic decision” to give justice to the OBC community in ensuring their legitimate political right.
It said it has always taken up development of socially and economically backward communities. In the last general election (2019), the party had provided one-third seats to women MP candidates and is continuously raising the issue of one-third reservation of women in both Parliament and Assemblies.
In view of a recent Supreme Court judgment, many States have withdrawn the reservation of seats in both panchayat and municipal elections; so, the BJD has urged the Union Government to ensure justice for the OBC community, the party stated.
The BJD said whatever the decision of the Union Government, based on legal and legislative principles; the BJD would adhere to its stand.
The meeting was attended by senior party leaders besides Ministers, MPs and MLAs