Congress Protests for Increased SEBC Quota in Odisha: What’s Next?

The Congress party in Odisha has launched a protest demanding a 27% reservation for Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs) in education and jobs. The party criticized the state government's decision to allocate only 11.25% for SEBC students in higher education and vowed to extend their campaign to rural areas. OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das emphasized the need to protect the rights of SEBCs, who make up a significant portion of the state's population. The ruling BJP responded by defending its policies and accusing the opposition of hypocrisy. This ongoing debate raises questions about the future of SEBC reservations in Odisha.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 23, 2025, 18:44 IST

Congress Demands Enhanced Reservation for SEBCs

Bhubaneswar: On Friday, the Congress party concluded a 24-hour protest outside the residence of Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, advocating for a 27% reservation in education and employment for Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs) in the state.

The party has pledged to extend its campaign for increased SEBC quotas to rural areas.

During the demonstration on Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Congress members expressed their discontent with the state government's recent decision to allocate only 11.25% of the quota for SEBC students in higher education.

They also criticized the government for failing to include SEBC quotas in medical, engineering, and technical courses.

OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das expressed gratitude to Congress workers who participated in the overnight protest despite heavy rain, stating, "We will continue to advocate for the rights of SEBC individuals, who represent 54% of Odisha's population."

Das emphasized that the Congress party is also dedicated to championing the rights of Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste communities.

He noted that STs, SCs, and SEBCs collectively account for 94% of Odisha's population, alleging that the current BJP government is infringing upon their rights.

The party has already presented a five-point demand to the governor and intended to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, who was unavailable at the time.

Other Congress leaders, including Prasad Harichandan and Jaydev Jena, criticized the BJP government, labeling it as "anti-SEBC."

Harichandan pointed out that while other states have implemented a 27% reservation for OBCs (SEBCs in Odisha), the state's BJP government is only offering 11.25%, which he described as discriminatory.

In response, the ruling BJP accused both the BJD and Congress of insincerity regarding SEBC issues.

BJP state president Manmohan Samal remarked, "What has the BJD done for SEBCs in its 24 years of governance? In just 11 months, the BJP has introduced an 11.25% quota for SEBC students in higher education, and we plan to extend this to medical and engineering courses soon."

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj defended the government's position, stating that the Supreme Court's 50% cap on caste-based reservations limits the state's ability to increase the SEBC quota.

He also mentioned that there is a 22.25% quota for STs and a 16.50% reservation for SCs in Odisha.