Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

With General Election likely to be announced soon, the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has taken the ordinance route to increase reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 14 per cent to 27 per cent.

Chief Minister Kamal Nath had made an announcement to this effect on March 6 while handing over loan waiver certificates to farmers in Sagar.

Governor Anandiben Patel signed the ordinance to amend the Madhya Pradesh Lok Seva (Anusuchit Jatiyon, Anusuchit Jan Jatioyon aur Anya Pichhade Vargon ke Liye Arakshan) Adhiniyam, 1994.

The ordinance was published in the gazette on Saturday.

At present, the state provides 20 per cent reservation to Scheduled Tribes, 16 per cent to Scheduled Castes and 14 per cent to OBCs.

OBCs are estimate to constitute nearly 52 per cent of the state’s population, and OBC groups have often demanded an increase in reservation to reflect their strength in the state.

BJP MP from Bhopal, Alok Sanjar, the announcement has been made with an eye on votes but in effect it will remain in a limbo.

Congress spokesperson Abhay Dubey said the BJP was in power in the state for 15 years but did not think of the OBCs. “The BPJ cannot accuse a 76-day-old government of bringing something in hurry when it did nothing for three terms,” he said.

A Congress leader alleged that the BJP may try to scuttle the implementation of the 27-per cent OBC reservation by getting someone to move the court.

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