BJD To Go Ahead With Preference To OBC Candidates In Odisha Panchayat Polls

Bhubaneswar: Even as the State Election Commission SEC has not made provisions for reservation of seats for OBCs in several districts for the panchayat election next year, the ruling BJD on Thursday said it would give preference to OBCs during the selection of candidates.

Speaking to media persons, Panchayati Raj Minister Pratap Jena said the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said the state government cannot make provisions for reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) as per the list prepared by the SEC on the Supreme Court’s order.

The apex court had earlier ruled that no reservation can be made for OBCs. But the BJD will give preference to OBCs during the selection of candidates, Jena said.

According to the SEC list, no seat has been reserved for OBCs in 14 districts while one seat has allotted for them in Boudh and two seats in Subarnapur district.

It may be mentioned that in August, the ruling party had announced to field 27% candidates from OBCs in the panchayat elections, two days after demanding that the Centre should bring a Bill in the Parliament to lift the 50% ceiling on the reservation of seats.