A Quota for Upper Castes Poor: Election Gimmick?

The Union Cabinet on Monday approved amendments to allow 10% reservation for economically weak sections of people belonging to the general category castes in jobs and education. Buzz is one would fall in the category of the economically weak if their total income per year is Rs 8 lakh or less, if they own only up to five acres of land, if their residential home is smaller than 1,000 square feet and is located in a plot of 109 square yards in a notified municipal area or 209 square yards in a non-notified municipality.

The government will reportedly move a Constitution amendment bill in the Lok Sabha to this effect tomorrow. The 10% quota for the general category will exceed the 50% cap placed by the Supreme Court on reservations and so a constitutional amendment is necessary but then this may open the Pandora Box.

BJP led Central Government has been denying the requests from various State Governments to increase the Quota Cap. For an instance, Andhra Pradesh Government has asked to relax the limit for Kapu Reservations. Telangana Government is asking to accommodate the increase of Reservations for Muslims and STs.

There is also a chance for BJP to move it in Lok Sabha with its strength and stall it in Rajya Sabha in the name of the Opposition. That means BJP will not grant the reservation but will go with the goodwill of trying to give reservations to the Poor in the Upper Castes. BJP opines that this decision will be a gamechanger for the party especially with the Middle Class of the Upper Castes in the upcoming elections. Let us if this decision will bring BJP back to Power.