Jaipur/Chandigarh- As Rajasthan gears up for the upcoming by-elections for 7 seats, political strategies are being shaped by key socio-political issues. One such issue, which has gained prominence, is the demand for sub-categorization of quotas within the Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation system.

This issue, said to have played a pivotal role in Haryana’s recent electoral success for the BJP, could similarly impact Rajasthan’s elections. The results of the Haryana Assembly elections were announced on October 8. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won continuously for the third time. The party secured 48 seats, while the Congress won 37 seats. Meanwhile, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) obtained 2 seats, and independents claimed 3 seats.

The implementation of sub-quotas within SC reservations is increasingly being seen as a decisive factor in garnering support from deprived castes within the SC community, a sentiment echoed by local leaders.

The Quota Announcement: A Game-Changing Decision

On August 18, during a press conference in Chandigarh, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that the state cabinet had accepted the Haryana Scheduled Caste Commission Report. This report recommended the creation of a sub-quota within the existing reservation for Scheduled Castes, aimed specifically at the most deprived and marginalized groups within the SC category.

In his announcement, Saini confirmed that 20% of government jobs in Haryana would be reserved for the SC community, of which 10% would be allocated exclusively to the most deprived sections, including castes that had historically been denied the full benefits of reservation. This decision aligns with the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling advocating for the equitable distribution of reservation benefits among the most marginalized communities within the SC category.

Addressing the press, Saini stated:

"Today, the Haryana Scheduled Caste Commission Report was accepted by the cabinet. A 20% quota in government jobs will be reserved for Scheduled Castes, with the commission recommending that 10% of this quota be allocated to the deprived Scheduled Castes."

This was a pivotal moment in Haryana’s political landscape, as it addressed a long-standing demand from the most disadvantaged sections within the SC category who had often felt left behind by the reservation system.

Timing and Strategic Importance

Saini further clarified that the rule would be implemented after the upcoming assembly elections, in accordance with the code of conduct set by the Election Commission of India. This calculated timing of the announcement positioned the BJP as a party committed to social justice, especially among SC communities, which have a significant voter base in Haryana.

Although the implementation was set to begin post-elections, the announcement itself played a crucial role in mobilizing the OBC and SC voters, particularly those from the deprived sub-castes, who viewed this as a long-awaited recognition of their struggles. By ensuring that marginalized communities within the SC category would receive their rightful share of the benefits, the BJP strengthened its appeal to these voters.

Senior Journalist and Blogger S.P Mittal argues that the "quota within quota" policy became a significant talking point during the election campaign, resonating deeply with the OBC and SC communities. According to Mittal, Shravan Tony, a Valmiki community leader in Rajasthan, highlighted this strategy as a key reason for the BJP’s victory in Haryana. He noted that many SC voters, particularly those from marginalized sub-castes such as Valmikis, Dhanaks, Bazigars, and Mazhabi Sikhs, saw this as a crucial step towards receiving the benefits of reservation that had eluded them for years.

The Supreme Court’s decision, implemented through the Haryana government’s policy, ensured that 10% of the SC reservation quota would be set aside for the most deprived castes. This reassured the SC community that their reservation benefits would be distributed more equitably. Importantly, the overall 20% reservation for SCs remained intact, addressing concerns that the introduction of a sub-quota would reduce the benefits for other SC groups.

By focusing on this sub-quota policy, the BJP was able to unify a broad section of the OBC and SC electorate, which saw the party’s decision as a direct response to their long-standing demands for fair treatment within the reservation system. The electoral outcome reflected this, with a significant number of SC and OBC voters rallying behind the BJP.

As a result of the success in Haryana, leaders like Shravan Tony are calling for the "quota within quota" policy to be replicated in other states, including Rajasthan. Toni argued that similar issues of deprivation exist within the SC category in Rajasthan, where many sub-castes have not received the full benefits of reservation while a few dominant castes continue to enjoy the majority of its advantages.

He emphasized that if the "quota within quota" policy is implemented in Rajasthan, it could have a transformative effect on the political landscape, much like it did in Haryana. Toni pointed out that SC and OBC communities represent a decisive voter base, capable of determining the outcome of elections in the state.