From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Dec 21: KPCC President D K Shivakumar has dared the Basavaraj Bommai regime to its proposal for increasing the reservation quota in the 9 th Schedule of Constitution in Parliament first instead of bringing an ordinance replacement bill in the State legislature knowing fully well that it has no powers to do so.

Addressing media persons in Belagavi Congress Bhavan on Wednesday, he said the BJP regime’s attempts to fool the people, especially the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by hurriedly coming out with a bill and then getting an ordinance approved for increasing the reservation quota for the SC/ST communities will not work as the Supreme Court has mandated that the reservation cannot exceed 50%. Shivakumar said it was the Congress government which had appointed the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission to study the issue and submit its report as well as proposals on increasing the quota as part of the attempt to get it done systematically and within the legal framework.

The Bommai regime wants the ruling BJP to merely get bragging rights through its bill and ordinance and now introducing in the State legislature, he said and urged the government send the proposal to Centre and exert pressure on the Narendra Modi government to include Karnataka’s proposal in the 9 th Schedule of the Constitution.

He said the AICC has already formed a panel to study the issue and study the pros and cons of the proposal for increasing the reservation quota. ``We will take a decision based on the committee’s report. We need to study the legal implications first,’’ he said.

Asked about the demand of the Panchamasali Lingayat community on granting the reservation benefits, he said the party leaders have already spelt out its stand. ``It is left to the government to first clarify its stand,’’ the KPCC Chief said and pointed out that several other communities have also made similar demands and some communities want to be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

Answering questions, Shivakumar said the party has already started the process of shortlisting names of its candidates for the ensuing assembly polls due in May 2023. The block level and district units have been asked to send the names of 1 to 3 probables for each of the 224 constituencies by the month end and the party will finalise the names by the middle of January, he said.

He said Congress party has more aspirants than other parties as the candidates are sensing that the party is sure to win. ``We will select the best possible candidates,’’ he added.