Difference of opinion among MVA partners over scrapping of 33% quota in promotions

Strong differences among the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi partners were resurfaced on Wednesday. The Congress party, which is sharing power with Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra, on Wednesday reiterated its strong objection against the government notification issued on May 7 to scrap 33% reservation in promotions for those employed through quotas in the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT)and Special Backward Classes (SBC) categories.

Senior Congress minister and chairman All India Congress Committee for Scheduled Caste Department today at the cabinet sub-committee meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, strongly opposed the notification cancelling 33% quota in promotions.

The government had issued notification on May 7 to scrap 33% quota in promotions two days after the Supreme Court had cancelled 12% quota in education and 13% in government jobs for the Maratha community. The General Administration Department, which issued notification, had cited High Court’s decision to scrap the promotion quota. The notification had raised hopes in open category that the government decision would clear the way for their promotions. Raut said, "In order to revoke the Government Resolution dated May 7, 2021, the opinion of the Law and Judiciary Department will be taken again. Besides, additional chief secretary of GAD will collect preliminary information regarding the backward classes.’’