Karnataka Cabinet approves 33% quota for OBCs in ULB elections

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BENGALURU, Karnataka: The state cabinet in Karnataka has approved the proposal put forward by former judge K Bhakthavatsala Commission, asking to provide 33 per cent reservation for Other Backward Category (OBC) in urban local body elections.

Though the cabinet has approved the proposal, H K Patil, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, said that the aggregate reservation for all backward categories, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, should not exceed the 50 per cent cap.

It is important to note that the OBC population, including minorities, constitutes 44.4 per cent of the total population in Karnataka.

Apart from that, the cabinet has also turned down two other recommendations. One recommendation sought to amend section 10 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act, 1976, to give 30 months (two and a half years) tenure to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Cabinet also rejected the proposal which says “the State government may review the re-classification of ‘backward classes’ Category-A and B into two more categories of ‘backward classes’ for the purpose of effective reservation in favour of OBCs including minorities, before the next local body election that will be held in the year 2027 or 2028.”