Bhubaneswar, Dec 29: Odisha BJP legislators on Wednesday requested Governor
Ganeshi Lal to intervene personally and ensure Panchayat elections in the state are held
by ensuring reservation to OBCs through constitutional mechanism.
In a letter to the Governor, the MLAs said though the constitution mandates advancement
and adequate representation of the SC, ST and OBC, in local self government , the Odisha
government is actively pursuing to conduct the Panchayat election without reservation to
OBCs.
The BJP leaders said such an election would deprive the persons belonging to OBC
community for five long years causing grave prejudices to the backward classes.
They said Odisha government has released the draft reservation list for Zilla Parishad
on December 27 and Panchayat Samitis and Sarpanch on December 29 .
The BJP leaders said while a case in this regard is pending before the Supreme Court
and the Union government has filed a review petition before the Apex court on December 27
last to allow political reservation of OBC in the local bodies/ Municipal corporations for the
time being till the states comply with the triple test criteria.
While the judgment of the Supreme Court is awaited it is unfortunate that the Odisha
government is pursuing to conduct the panchayat elections without reservations to OBCs,
the BJP MLAs said.
