GANDHINAGAR: Both the BJP and the Congress have opposed a circular from the state election commission (SEC) to conduct elections to 3,252 gram panchayats without the 10% reservation to members of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
While Congress MLA Punja Vansh wrote to the CM on Tuesday, urging him to ensure that OBCs get 10% reservation in these elections, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Jagdish Thakor charged the BJP with not making the case for this forcefully in the Supreme Court.
Adhering to the SC order of May 10, the SEC instructed district collectors to prepare to hold elections without the 10% OBC reservation. “The BJP state and Union governments are anti-reservation. By not making a forceful representation in the SC, the BJP has shown that it ultimately wants to do away with reservations,” Thakor said on Wednesday.
Rejecting the Congress charge, Gujarat BJP spokesman Yagnesh Dave said the BJP is committed to securing the rights of all sections of society, including OBCs. “If required, the BJP will seek legal recourse to ensure that OBCs get their rights. The SEC has asked for seats reserved for OBCs to be transferred to the general category. It appears to have been a decision taken in haste,” Dave said.
State election commissioner Sanjay Prasad said the SEC is only complying with the orders of the Supreme Court. “Please see what the Supreme Court has said in its order on May 10,” Prasad said when asked to comment on statements by political parties over the matter.
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