Jena Urges Odisha CM to Ensure SEBC/OBC Quota in Local Body Polls

Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 : Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Srikant Jena has urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to introduce proportionate reservation for SEBC/OBC communities in the upcoming urban and local body elections in the state.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Jena highlighted the scheduled elections to newly formed Notified Area Councils (NACs) and Municipalities, as well as the forthcoming cycle of local body polls across Odisha. He stressed the need to ensure fair political representation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

Jena pointed out that while reservation provisions for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) are already in place in local bodies, several other states have extended similar benefits to SEBC/OBC communities to promote inclusive governance. He noted that SEBC/OBC communities constitute nearly 54 percent of Odisha’s population but continue to remain without reservation in local self-governing institutions.

The Congress leader called upon the state government to complete the necessary legislative formalities during the ongoing Assembly session, including the introduction and passage of an appropriate Bill or amendments. According to him, this would create a clear and legally sustainable framework to ensure proportionate reservation for backward classes in local bodies.

Jena further appealed to the Chief Minister to implement the proposed reservation policy in the upcoming NAC and Municipal elections and in future local body polls.

“Timely action in this regard will reaffirm the State’s commitment to social justice and strengthen grassroots democracy by enabling fair and representative participation for all sections of society,” he stated, expressing hope that the matter would be addressed with urgency and fairness.