Odisha Opposition Demands Quota Increase Beyond 50%, Citing Disparity

Opposition parties in Odisha, the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), are demanding a resolution in the Assembly to increase the reservation cap beyond the current 50% limit. They accuse the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of neglecting the interests of tribal, dalit, and OBC communities. The opposition highlights a significant disparity between the reservation quotas allocated for these groups and their actual population proportions, particularly in technical and medical institutions. The Congress leader, Rama Chandra Kadam, criticized the BJP’s approach, citing Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra as examples where reservation rules have been adjusted to better reflect demographic realities. Both the Congress and BJD leaders voiced support for exceeding the 50% cap and demanded a postponement of MBBS admissions until the quota allocation is reviewed, fearing that students from marginalized communities will be disadvantaged.