http://indiatoday.
TDP raises demand for an OBC quota in LS
A. Srinivasa Rao
Hyderabad, March 15, 2010
Eyeing a huge votebank, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N.
Chandrababu Naidu has demanded reservation for other backward classes
(OBCs) and minorities in Parliament and state legislature bodies.
During a meeting with senior functionaries of the party a few days
ago, Naidu told them to kick up a debate on such reservations, while
welcoming the women's quota Bill.
He also raised the demand during a discussion in the state assembly.
The former Andhra chief minister pointed out that it was the TDP
government which had introduced the OBC quota in local bodies and
municipalities. "Hereafter, we will fight for an OBC quota in the Lok
Sabha and state assemblies," he said.
Though, unlike the Yadav trio, Naidu has not opposed reservation for
women in the legislature bodies, he has raised the OBC bogey for the
first time.
The backward classes once formed a strong votebank of the TDP. "The
party has supported the demand for an OBC quota in the legislature
bodies for quite some time, but we didn't pursue it aggressively to
avoid creating an impression that the TDP was against women's
reservation. Now that the women's Bill has crossed the first hurdle,
we are raising the issue," TDP legislator and prominent OBC leader L.
Ramana said.
The TDP leaders are hopeful that there would be overwhelming support
from parties across the political spectrum in the country for an OBC
quota in the legislature bodies. By raising the issue Naidu has also
kept the options open for a future alliance with the RJD and the SP,
as well as a possible revival of the Third Front before the next
elections.
As part of the strategy, the TDP is now demanding that the Centre take
up enumeration of OBCs in the 2011 Census.
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