Bhubaneswar : , Wednesday, December 29, 2009 – A delegation from the Odisha BJP including three legislators sought Governor Ganeshi L’s intervention for reservation of seats in Panchayat elections. To press their demands, the Governor received a memorandum from BJP MLAs Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and Mukesh Mahaling.
Mohapatra stated that despite the fact that 54% of state’s residents are OBC, they were denied reservation at Panchayati Raj Institutions.
He stated that “we have asked the Governor to not hold the Panchayat election at three-tiers until the reservation of OBC seats in rural bodies has been made”
The BJP lawmakers stated in their memorandum that the Constitution requires advancement and proper representation for the SC, ST, and OBCs.
The idea of decentralisation and bringing governance down to the grassroots is aimed at ensuring that OBCs are represented in the local government.
They claimed that the Odisha government’s decision to conduct panchayat election without making OBCs aware is contrary to the Constitution scheme of advancement, adequate representation and object of OBCs.
The memorandum stated that “It is very unfortunate that Odisha government has actively pursued to conduct Panchayat election without reservations to OBCs.Such an election would deprive OBC members for five long years, which no stretch of logic can be considered to be short, and cause grave prejudices to backward classes.”
The BJP legislators stated that a similar case is under-judice before the Supreme Court.They also said that the Union government was concerned about the matter and filed a review petition with the Supreme Court on Dec 27.This would allow the political reservation of OBCs within local bodies/municipal companies for the moment until the three test criteria are met by the states.
The Governor was requested by the MLAs to address the matter with the State Election Commission.
This would ensure that Panchayat elections are held and provide reservations for OBCs under the constitution.
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