Increasing reservation for Other Backward Caste (OBC) — numerically stronger in tribal State Jharkhand has become another important poll issue for all political parties in Jharkhand. All major political parties from national to regional level have promised to increase OBC quota in their manifesto. While, the BJP has talked about increasing the OBC reservation based on their population as per Constitutional limit, the Congress has vowed to increase OBC reservation limit to 27 per cent from existing 14 per cent.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which is contesting election in alliance with the Congress and the RJD too has pledged to provide 67 per cent reservation to STs, OBCs and SCs.
With a promise to reserve 75 per cent jobs in private sector for locals, the regional party in its manifesto has promised to give 28 per cent reservation to the Schedule Tribes, 27 per cent to Other Backward Classes and 12 per cent to Schedule Castes.
Not far behind, AJSU party the other regional party which is though BJP partner but contesting election alone too has promised 27 per cent reservations for other backward communities in Government jobs and admissions to educational institutions.
The AJSU party which is headed by former Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto who himself is an OBC logic for increasing OBC reservation is that during unified Bihar OBCs were given 27 per cent reservations, but when separate State Jharkhand was carved out in 2000 the OBC reservation limit was cut down to 14 per cent.
The reservation to scheduled categories in Jharkhand is currently capped at 50 per cent, besides the recently-implemented 10 per cent quota to the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) in the general category. While the Scheduled Tribes (ST) get 26 per cent quota, Scheduled Castes (SCs) get 10 per cent and OBCs have 14 per cent reservation.
Political thinker and former Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University VP Sharan said, “The OBCs are numerically stronger in many Lok Sabha constituencies such as Palamu, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Giridih, Koderma and others. Their votes assume importance for all political parties and so all parties have vowed to increase the OBC reservation.”
However, Sharan claims that if OBC reservation is increased than the quota of other section of societies will be curtailed which will antagonize other communities.
Caste groups like Kurmis, Koeris, Ahirs, Telis and other caste having small population in State but constituting sizeable chunk in select pockets constitute OBCs.
However, sources said implementation of promise in State could face another challenge as there has been a parallel demand from Kurmis who constitute a big chunk of OBC population in State for inclusion in ST category.
Sources said in second and third phase of polling the OBC population in many constituencies is deciding and none of the parties will go to antagonize OBC sections. Sources said that all political parties from national to regional have adequate representation of OBC leaders. Leaders such as late Nirmal Mahto, Sudhir Mahto, Teklal Mahto to present Sudesh Mahto politics revolves around OBC reservation.