Pre-poll bonaza: Maharashtra plans OBC status to Lingayat community

Mumbai: After giving reservations to Marathas and Muslims in education and jobs, the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra seems to be on a announcement spree of populist decisions to please the different communities in the state in view of the upcoming assembly election due in October this year.

On Thursday, the state government decided to recommend to the state backward commission for the inclusion of Lingayat community in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. The state government has also decided make a recommendation to the Union government seeking ‘minority’ community status for the community in the state. The Lingayat community’s population is over 90 lakhs in the state.

“The justice has been made to the Lingayat community. The state government’s decision to giving them reservation in the OBC category will empower the entire community,” said Dilip Sopal, minister for water supply and sanitation.

In July, the Congress-NCP ruled state government in Maharashtra announced 16 percent reservation in government jobs and education for the politically powerful Maratha community and 5 percent reservation for Muslims. Subsequently, following the agitations from the Dhangar, a politically influential community, it has decided to forward the community’s demands about its inclusion in the ST category. Apart from this, in an unprecedented move, the state government also approved the 5 percent reservation to the children of policemen in the recruitment for the post of police constable earlier in this month.

Following the rout in the Lok Sabha election, the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra, which is in power for last 15 years, is also facing the anti-incumbency factor in the state. So, it seems to be pleasing all the communities by agreeing to their demands. Also, the state government is forced to take such decision given the fact that BJP, the opposition party in the state, is trying to gain the political mileage by supporting these communities’ demands about the reservation.

“Apart from the anti-incumbency, there is lot of anger among these communities against the government. So, we are making all possible efforts to make sure that all these communities such Maratha, Muslim, Dhangar and Lingayat don’t go against the government. Because, all these communities, who have always stood behind the Congress-NCP, have significant presence in various regions of the state,” explained a Congress leader.

An NCP leader said that both political parties want to keep its base intact to comeback to power in the state.

The political analysts say that such populist decisions taken few days before the assembly elections are just to please the different sections or communities of the society. “The Congress-NCP is making desperate attempts to retain power in the state. But, it won’t help the Congress-NCP much in upcoming assembly election. It may set a bad precedent and such decisions are totally unconstitutional, illegal and against the principle of natural justice,” said Surendra Jondhale, a political analyst.

Jondhale said that there is lot of anger among the people in the state, who are likely vote against the Congress-NCP.

However, YP Singh, IPS officer turned lawyer has slammed the state government for giving reservation in the recruitment of the police force. “This is not the correct decision and it will reduce the efficiency of the police force. Since most of the cops have sympathy towards the Shiv Sena, the congress-NCP is trying to win the sympathy of policemen in light of upcoming election,” Singh said.