The ruling-BJD in Odisha faced stiff opposition after it announced that it will field 27% candidates in the upcoming Panchayat elections from the Socially & Economically Backward Classes (SEBC). Ministers Arun Sahoo and Ranendra Pratap Swain announced the SEBC reservation in ticket distribution at a press meet on Friday (Aug 13).

The Ministers stated that since there is no central law dictating a reservation for the backward category in the elections, BJD took a party-level decision to field 27 percent SEBC candidates in the upcoming Panchayat and other subsequent elections.

Arun Sahoo stated that BJD took the decision after it received support for its move to field one-third women candidates in Lok Sabha polls. However, BJD’s announcement has been criticized by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, who termed it a political gimmick.

The opposition argued that if BJD wanted to help the Socially & Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) then they should focus on reservation in Education and Jobs. Meanwhile, political analysts are of the opinion that the BJD took this decision in fear of falling behind the BJP.

This is because the BJP at the Centre has passed the OBC Bill in the Parliament and this move might gain them valuable support.