Bhopal, March 10: Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has approved an ordinance to increase reservation for OBCs. With the 2019 Lok Sabha elections approaching soon, the Indian National Congress government in MP had issued an ordinance to increase the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 14 per cent to 27 per cent on Friday. The ordinance was published in the Gazette on Saturday. Kamal Nath to Contest Chhindwara By-Election After Congress MLA Deepak Saxena Resigns.

The ordinance was sent to Patel on Friday, before the general elections code of conduct comes into effect. Speaking on the Congress' move, MP Law and Legal Affairs minister PC Sharma said that this move is seen as an attempt from Congress to woo OBC before the Lok Sabha polls. Currently, the state provides 16 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes (SCs), 20 per cent to Scheduled Tribes, and 14 per cent to OBCs. MP Govt Raises OBC Reservation Limit; to Implement EWS Quota.

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According to the data, OBCs constitute nearly 52 per cent of the state's population. In the 2018 Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is believed to have pocketed around 50 per cent of OBC votes, though it managed only 109 seats against Congress' 114 in the 230 member house. Speaking of Lok Sabha seats, BJP holds 26 of the 29 seats, the grand old party having the rest.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 10, 2019 09:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).