Congress supports 15-20% reservation for EBCs beyond 49% cap

Congress party has thrown its hat into the reservation ring. Gurudas Kamat, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee and in-charge of Gujarat Congress, announced here on Thursday that his party supports 15-20% economically backward class (EBC) quota for Patidars and other non-reserved communities across India. This is in addition to the existing caste-based quota in the country.

“After wider consultations with national party president Sonia Gandhi and Congress leaders in Gujarat, Congress has decided to support EBC status for communities like Patidars, Brahmins, Baniyas and others who are deprived of reservation benefits despite economic problems,” said Kamat, who was on a one-day visit to the state.

For a party that has capitalized on Kshatriya, Hindu, Adivasi and Muslim (KHAM) politics in Gujarat, Congress’ support for EBC quota ahead of Bihar polls and civic elections in Gujarat is seen as an apparent bid to tap into unrest in the middle class vote bank consolidated by the BJP .

“We demand that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government declare 15-20% EBC reservation. If Modi government fails, we openly commit the next Congress government to do this,”, said Kamat.

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