Raipur: In Chhattisgarh, the first phase of voting is scheduled for November 7th, where political parties often attempt to garner votes along caste lines. However, so far, the efficacy of caste-based polarization in the state has remained uncertain. Examining the results of the past four elections, no political party can assert that they have significantly benefited from caste-based voting patterns.
The BJP, represented by its Chhattisgarh state president for Scheduled Tribes, Vikas Marakam, contends that reservations not only address the rights of tribal communities but also tackle various socio-economic issues and promote regional development. On the other hand, Adivasi leaders and Congress legislator Brijesh Singh argue that political parties use reservations as a bargaining chip, but the Adivasi community pushes for the realization of their rights, advocating for several issues that parties champion, thereby benefiting them.
It is worth noting that in 2012, the Raman Singh government had increased reservation quotas, making a substantial political move. This increase raised the reservation cap from 50% to 58%, intensifying the competition among political parties for a share of these reserved seats. While the move favored the Scheduled Tribes with 32% reservation, it decreased the Scheduled Castes’ quota to 12% and Other Backward Classes to 14%. Despite these changes, in the 2013 Assembly elections, the BJP secured only 11 out of 29 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes, while in the 2008 elections, it had won 19.
Furthermore, the adjustment in reservation percentages before the upcoming elections, particularly reducing the allocation for the Scheduled Castes, resulted in the BJP winning 9 out of the 10 seats it contested in these newly redefined categories. Congress passed a reservation amendment bill that raised the stakes, increasing the Scheduled Tribes’ quota to 13%, Scheduled Castes to 32%, and Other Backward Classes to 27%, along with a 4% reservation for EWS, though this bill is still pending with the Raj Bhavan (Governor’s residence).
As of now, Congress holds 27 out of 29 Scheduled Tribes seats, while the BJP has just two. Similarly, in the Scheduled Castes category, Congress holds seven seats, BJP two, and BSP one. This ongoing debate surrounding reservations and caste-based politics adds layers of complexity to Chhattisgarh’s political landscape, and the outcome of the elections will depend on how voters respond to these nuances.
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