In a historic decision ahead of crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi led NDA government has approved 10 percent reservation for economically weaker section of general category. The Bill proposing amendments will be moved in Parliament tomorrow. The Winter session of the Parliament will end tomorrow. Since the session is concluding on Tuesday, the government will combine heaven and hell to pass the Bill tomorrow or the next time when it will meet again very soon for presenting the Interim Budget.
For more details: Modi government gives nod to reservation for general category
The historic amendment would be in line with the Modi government’s policy of doing away with caste-based appeasement. PM Modi has once again shown why he is called the creative disruptor. Politically it is a very significant move. It will lead to the creation of a new vote bank of the economically backward sections, transcending caste and religion, voting for the BJP.
It is a masterstroke, considering the fact that if opposition political parties vote against 10% quota for economically weaker ‘upper castes’ then they risk losing voters belonging to upper castes. And also labeling it as an election move could not also help the case of opposition. Opposing this would be suicidal for the opposition. The BJP will make it a huge electoral issue in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. And if the opposition supports the bill proposing the amendment then it’s the BJP which will get the credit.
If parties vote against 10% quota for 'upper castes' then they risk alienating 'upper caste' voters. If they support, who gets the credit?
Therein lies the story behind this third audacious disruption by PM Modi. https://t.co/40m2AlusBZ— Kanchan Gupta (Hindu Bengali Refugee)🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) January 7, 2019
Once the Bill is cleared in the parliament even then it will have to stand the Supreme Court scrutiny. The judiciary will be also caught in a catch 22 situation. If they strike it down then the government would resort to an ordinance route, and the government will emerge even stronger.
The timing of the move is extremely crucial. Next Lok Sabha elections are around the corner and it will help the party to set the narrative. It is giving them a huge head start, and it would not be wrong to say that today the BJP has officially launched its election campaign for 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The move to provide 10 percent reservation for economically weaker section of general category could go on to become the single largest talking point ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Many opposition political parties are still thinking what to say and how to react to this move. As of now, they can neither oppose nor praise the government.
The timing of the decision once again shows the political acumen of the BJP. The analysts, the pundits and the self-declared ‘media watchers’ were again caught completely off guard with this decision. In terms of big decisions, this has been the modus operandi of the BJP. Owing to this, the media also failed to predict demonetization move. Keeping next move secret has been one of the biggest strength of PM Modi and party president Amit Shah. They always stick to their trademark secrecy and this strength allows them to outwit their opposition.