OBC, MBC quota row escalates in tribal sub-plan areas ahead of local body polls

Jaipur: The political temperature in Rajasthan's Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) belt rose sharply ahead of the March-April panchayat and urban local body elections, with OBC and MBC organisations issuing an open call to boycott the polls over their long-pending demand for reservation for their communities in tribal-dominated regions.Posters warning of a boycott surfaced across Udaipur, Dungarpur and Banswara, signalling growing discontent among backward communities that accused successive govts of political neglect. The groups argued that the existing TSP reservation structure—45% for STs, 5% for SCs and 50% for the open category—completely excluded OBCs and MBCs, despite their sizeable population.
Nathulal Patidar, coordinator of the OBC Adhikar Manch, said OBCs constituted 22%–28% of the population in TSP districts, yet their representation in govt jobs and educational institutions was below 10%. "OBCs and MBCs already get 21% and 5% reservation at state level, but in TSP areas this disappears. We are demanding 10.5% for OBCs and 2.5% for MBCs from the open category, without touching ST or SC quotas," he said. Patidar also sought to corner BJP politically, alleging that Union minister Bhupendra Yadav assured OBC reservation in TSP areas during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but no initiative was taken after the polls. "Promises were made for votes, not for policy," he said. On the ground, the resentment is translating into direct political resistance. Poonam Labana, vice-president of the All India Labana Samaj, said villages like Mada in Dungarpur—where the MBC Labana community forms nearly the entire population—remained locked out of power as key posts are reserved for STs. "Reservation changes in 2006 uprooted us politically. Since then, we are pushed into the open category, where competing with dominant groups is nearly impossible," he said. He claimed to post a boycott call poster at the Dungarpur collectorate. Similarly, Mahendra Desai Rebari, president of the Rebari Samaj in TSP areas, said the boycott call cut across party lines. "This is against BAP, BJP and Congress. All of them seek our votes but ignore our representation. No candidate will be allowed into our villages without a clear assurance," he said, pointing out that MBC communities receive reservation benefits in districts like Chittorgarh, but not in TSP areas. OBC organisations said placing their communities in the open category denied them fair representation in elected bodies, jobs and education, adding that the boycott call created fresh uncertainty ahead of the March-April local body polls in southern Rajasthan. Districts like Dungarpur, Banswara and Pratapgrah are fully reserved for STs, while Rajsamand, Udaipur, Pali and Sirohi and Chittorgarh have portions reserved for STs.