Cong's UP plans behind reservation move

In wilderness for about 15 years in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress, through man Friday Arjun Singh, the human resource development minister, has made a big political gambit in the Hindi heartland.

Reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions is a social engineering formula that will bring the Congress back into reckoning in the politically most crucial state, party sources claimed.

It is the first time the party is thinking beyond its traditional support base of upper castes-Muslims-Dalits and is making bold overtures towards the OBCs, who constitute over half the population in Uttar Pradesh, they said.

When Singh opened the pandora's box last week, he was certainly not looking at the five poll-bound states, because his move could only invite backlash from upper castes in southern states where regional parties had been over playing the reservation card. General elections are still far away and Singh looks like a man in hurry.

At this stage in UP it is difficult to break into the BJP's and the BSP's respective strongholds of upper castes and Scheduled Castes, respectively. If the Congress has to return to political centrestage in UP, it can only be done at the expense of the Samajwadi Party, whose main support base is among the OBCs, say Congress sources.

According to Congress calculations, even if Yadavs continue their support to the SP, the remaining OBCs constitute about 35 per cent of the population and remain vulnerable.

As for the SP's hold over Muslims, sources said the government was working out a "minority package" which would be announced in due course of time. Besides, the Congress can always hope to get some votes from its old support base, that is, the upper castes and Dalits.

If that happens, it is sure to catapult it to the height of glory not just in UP but also at the Centre, say sources.