Congress, Shiv Sena opinion clash over the reservation, ahead of the BMC elections 2022

As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2022 approach, all party seems to gear them up. In a recent step taken by the Congress where the party has put forward the suggestion of reservation for the migrant community. But, this demand from the Congress Party can be seen as a threat to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government as this demand will hurt the Shiv Sena’s son of the soil- Marathi Manoos Agenda. 

 

This demand came from Congress leader Nasim Khan where he stated that migrants from other states who come to the state of Maharashtra should be provided reservations like it is provided for other caste and communities. Further, he stated that there are migrants who have been staying in the state for a very long time. 

 

“There are OBC, SC and ST communities who have been migrated in the city of Mumbai in search of work. The state government should do the verification of the communities which have not been notified in various reserved categories and the reservation should be extended for them as well. This reservation will not only help their children get proper school education but also in getting government jobs,” stated Congress leader Nasim Khan. 

 

Agreeing with the Congress leader’s demand, Congress Minister Vijay Wadettiwar stated that it is well said by the Congress leader that many migrants are belonging to various castes and communities. Responding to the demand raised by the Congress Party, the Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Wikar stated that the Shiv Sena party is 100 percent sure that they will be firm on their son of the soil agenda and no changes will be made in it even if the Shiv Sena shares power with Congress Party and NCP.

 

 

An observer stated that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections which were held in 2017, where it was noticed that the majority of North Indian chunk of migrants, had voted for BJP, that’s why the number of seats of the party went up from 31 to 82 whereas, the Congress party and NCP number went down from 51 to 31 seats and 13 to 9 seats. “This time the Congress Party seems to do some course corrections as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections 2022 approach,” stated Senior Congress Leader. 

 

 

Image Courtesy: The New Indian Express