The Panchayat elections in the State would be held without reservations for other backward classes. State Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Alamgir Alam on Wednesday said that the State government is committed to increase reservation of Other Backward Class (OBC), but the Panchayat elections in State would be held without quota for OBCs. Presently, there is a quota for Scheduled Caste (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in local bodies’ elections.
Replying to a query raised by BJP Vishrampur legislator, Ramchandra Chandravanshi during calling attention motion regarding Panchayat election, the minister said that if the state government delays the panchayat election further than Centre will put a brake on grants and other financial assistance to State. Alam further said, “The State Government is committed to provide 27 per cent reservation to OBC and in this connection the government is studying various aspects.”
The minister also said that the local bodies’ election will be held soon and elections will be held in both notified and non-notified areas.
Targeting the BJP government, Alam, the Pakur MLA, said that if BJP is so much concerned with OBCs, then why did the BJP government not increase the quota for OBC. Participating in the debate, JMM MLA Dipak Birua demanded the government to introduce the concept of Adivasi (tribal) panchayat. He said that in the State there are 13 districts which are reserved. Also participating in the debate, AJSU chief and MLA from Silli, Sudesh Mahto stated that the state government should not deprive them of their rights.
Last month the Jharkhand Cabinet gave its nod to holding Panchayat elections in the State. The decision to this effect was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. As per Cabinet decision, the Panchayat election will be held in April/ May, however, the dates for local bodies election has not been decided. Sources said that the demand for increasing reservation to OBCs is attached to all political parties in the state as OBC constitute nearly 50 per cent of state's population.
Last year, the ruling Congress, which is the second largest party in the Hemant Soren government after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), held a day-long sit-in protest across the state, demanding 27 percent reservation for other backward classes (OBCs) in Jharkhand.
Meanwhile, in another development as soon as the proceedings started on Wednesday, MLA and Congress leader Pradeep Yadav, launched a big attack on his government alleging that some employees of the Assembly Secretariat suppress questions related to the scam. He gave a written complaint to the Speaker in this matter.
The MLA said that the question related to the road scam in Ramgarh was suppressed by some officials of Secretariat. He urged the speaker to make a committee of the assembly and get the matter investigated. The Speaker said that if there is a need to form a committee, it will be formed.