States like Maharashtra are seeking to create reservation in the local bodies for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). However, Tamil Nadu made an attempt more than 25 years ago to implement a quota for the BCs in the rural local bodies.
After the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution came into effect during April-June 1993, States were required to hold elections to rural and urban local bodies. For one reason or the other, in Tamil Nadu, the elections were getting delayed and pressure was increasing on the AIADMK government to hold the elections.
It was at this juncture that the State government, headed by Jayalalithaa, came up with 50% reservation for the BCs in village panchayats, panchayat unions and district panchayats. The principle of reservation was to apply not only to the wards at each level but also to the offices of heads of the three rural local bodies.
