Maharashtra: Solution for OBC quota in sight

The meeting was chaired by CM Uddhav Thackeray. File/Bipin Kokate

A week after they met to find a solution to restoring the OBC reservation in local bodies, major political parties in the state deliberated on the issue again on Friday. A difference of opinion persisted this time as well, with some hell-bent on asking the Centre for the empirical data. They were, however, also in agreement with the majority view that the state's backward class commission (BCC) should also be asked to collect the data required as early as possible to reinstate the reservation.

There was unanimity on postponing the elections, scheduled for February next and throughout 2022, if the quota wasn't restored. But, since the state government can recommend to the state election commission only in exceptional cases, and the absence of OBC quota isn't a formidable excuse that can be given to delay the elections, the COVID-19 situation is most likely to be a strong reason to postpone the polls till the data comes in, either from the Centre or BCC.

Devendra Fadnavis, Opposition leader

Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur are among the big-ticket civic corporations that are scheduled to go to the polls next February. Almost two-thirds of the state's zilla parishad and panchayat samiti bodies and a host of small- and medium-size city municipal councils will also elect new members. In addition, some municipal bodies that could not have polls in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic will be part of a mega exercise that assumes the significance of mini assembly polls. The stakes are very high for all parties, especially the ruling trio.

The OBC quota was quashed earlier this year by the Supreme Court, which wants the state to do certain things before allowing it to be restored. The order was in a case related to five districts where the 28 per cent quota for the OBCs was disproportionate to their population. The SC had stated that the total reservation cannot exceed 50 per cent and directed the state to conduct the triple test.

The chief minister's office said in a statement that it was decided unanimously to direct the backward class commission to prepare empirical data at the earliest, after seeking Advocate General's advice. "It was also decided to postpone the polls if the data and BCC's report are delayed."

State Congress president Nana Patole said the BCC has asked for Rs 450 crore for conducting the exercise. "It's good if a caste-wise census is done in Maharashtra because the Centre has refused to conduct it. The Congress has demanded such an exercise, and wants the polls postponed till the data is collected and processed," he said, after the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Patole blamed the BJP for faltering in the quota calculation for Nagpur ZP elections and similar cases which later led to the legal tangle.

Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who bats for OBCs, said the state representatives have been asked to argue in the appeal that the SC will hear on September 23. "We will request the SC to direct the Centre to share empirical data with us and all other states," he said. Sources said the government will urge the SC to postpone the polls because of the pandemic.

Fadnavis vindicated

On March 5, speaking in the Assembly a day after the quota was stayed, Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis had suggested an exercise by the BCC. He felt vindicated on Friday. "We strongly feel that the quota must be restored or else polls postponed. I have been talking about the backward class commission ever since the issue cropped up and debated. The Law and Judiciary Department has endorsed a view that I had presented in the all-party meeting last week. If done properly, the commission can collect and process the data to establish OBC political backwardness in three-four months, and we can have the polls as scheduled or together, whatever is possible," he said, adding that the state government had collected such data for the Maratha quota in four months," he said, adding that the state government had collected such data for the Maratha quota in four months.