Congress' offer for Gujarat

Congress managers are promising 20% reservation in jobs and education to backward upper castes

Gearing up for the battle for Gujarat where Assembly polls will be held at the end of the year, Congress managers are promising 20 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to economically backward upper castes. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government last year offered 10 per cent. Congress managers said the 20 per cent quota would not disturb the existing reservation in the western state where the BJP has ruled for around 19 years. Former state CM Anandiben Patel had offered the 10 per cent quota to economically backward upper castes to quell the powerful movement by the Patel community which had turned violent, paving way for Vijay Rupani to replace her.