Janardan Dwivedi's views on scrapping caste-based quota will be considered: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today played down the remarks made by senior party leader Janardan Dwivedi against caste reservation and about formation of UPA II government in 2009 as "his views" but did not rule out the possibility of their consideration in the party.

"What Janardan Dwivediji has said is something he has been saying within party fora earlier also. He had been expressing his views earlier as well," party spokesperson Shobha Oza said about Dwivedi's remarks that Congress should not have formed an alliance government in 2009.

Asked about his views expressed in an interview seeking an end to caste-based reservation and bringing in quota based on economic condition for all communities, the party said a senior leader has expressed a view and this can be considered by the party.

"He has placed his views. Definitely, it could be considered in the party. Right now, a view has come. Whenever some leader brings any view in the party, consideration on it happens within the orgnaization. Congress is a democratic party," Oza said.

Dwivedi has called for an end to reservation on caste lines and urged Rahul Gandhi to introduce quota for financially weaker sections bringing all communities under its ambit.

Taking the political and media circles by surprise, Dwivedi had a few days back also said that it would have been better for Congress had it not formed the UPA II government in 2009.

Dwivedi's pitch to end caste-based reservation came at a time when Congress is pursuing minority sub quota, supporting reservation in promotion for SCs/STs and appears favourably disposed towards reservation for Jats.