UP's Panchayat polls on hold over new OBC panel

UP Panchayat polls may be delayed as the state told the Allahabad High Court that a new OBC Commission must be formed to fix reservation before elections.

Responding to a PIL, the government told the court that the new commission would submit its report on OBC reservation before the electoral process begins. The rural polls were earlier slated for March.

As per Supreme Court directives, a dedicated OBC commission must be constituted before local body elections. The existing panel's tenure ended in October last year and was extended by a year, but the state told the court that an extended body cannot substitute for a freshly constituted commission.


Once formed, the new commission will conduct a rapid survey of the OBC population and recommend reservation accordingly. The previous survey had pegged the OBC population in rural areas at 53.33%, which formed the basis for reservation in the 2021 polls. Whether the new survey yields similar figures remains to be seen.

The process is expected to take time, making a delay inevitable.

BJP sources indicated that holding panchayat polls closer to the 2027 Assembly elections may also suit the party strategically. Allies such as Om Prakash Rajbhar have publicly favoured postponement.