Maharashtra plans 10% quota for Marathas, 4% for Muslims

Decision to be announced in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections

The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government in Maharashtra is close to take a decision to provide 10 per cent reservation to politically significant Maratha community and four per cent to Muslims in education and jobs in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

The government has already clarified there was no move to give political reservation to Marathas and Muslims. The proposed reservation for Marathas, who constitute about 15 per cent, and Muslims (about 12.5 per cent), will not touch the existing 52 per cent reservation for other backward classes (OBCs) and other categories, including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, nomadic and other backward castes. Congress and NCP leaders admitted the government’s move would help tackle anti-incumbency.

The government wants to adopt the Tamil Nadu model whereby the caste-based reservation stands at 69 per cent and the same is applicable to about 87 per cent of the population. A Supreme Court order mandates such quotas cannot exceed 50 per cent.

A NCP leader said the quota would increase by another 14 per cent in Maharashtra. He hoped the move would not face legal trouble as the apex court had upheld the Tamil Nadu quota model. He referred to the statement recently made by NCP President Sharad Pawar that the party would openly oppose if the government was trying to carve out quota for the Maratha community in particular from the existing quota.

At present, OBCs, which constitute 52 per cent, enjoy 30 per cent reservation in jobs in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has confirmed the government's move. He, however, said the cabinet would give its approval after a committee led by industry Minister Narayan Rane submitted its report.

On the other hand, a Congress MP, who did not want to be named, referred to the Justice Sachar Committee report that was accepted by both the central and state governments.

The report has recommended that a mechanism be put in place to ensure equity and equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination. “The proposed 4 per cent reservation will be one of the many initiatives in that direction,” he said.