Bhubaneswar, Jan 14: The other backward class (OBC) and the socially and educationally backward class (SEBC) politics has begun in the state after the cabinet adopted a resolution urging the Centre to enumerate the SEBC during the upcoming census. Both opposition Congress and BJP targeted the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the state demanding setting up of a commission for the other backward class (OBC) and provision of reservation on the basis of their population ratio. On the other hand, countering the attack, the BJD said the matter is pending in the Supreme Court and questioned as to why the Central government is not providing data on SEBC.  

” If the BJD has so much concern for the other backward class, then why it is not constituting a commission for the backward communities ?  Why 27 percent reservation has not been effected for them in educational institutions and government jobs ?”, asked the state BJP leaders.

Odisha Pradesh Congress president Niranjan Patnaik alleged that the BJD government in the state has started votebank politics to win the next elections, after keeping quiet over the matter for the last twenty years.

The ruling BJD, on the other hand, said that the party was committed to provide reservation facilities to the backward class. “However, it is not able to effect reservation for OBC as Supreme Court has capped the reservation quota within 50 percent”, said the BJD leaders.

It may be noted that the voting pattern in Odisha is not caste based. That’s why, the political parties in the state could not take the benefit of the caste based politics.

Still, the ruling BJD has of late adopted a new strategy to gain the support of OBC, a dominant constituent in the  state’s population, believe the political observers. In a counter offensive, the other political parties have come forward to expose BJD’s intention.