Assam Assembly poll: BJP eyes ordinance to change poll dynamics , Assam Assembly poll , Assam Assembly Election 2016 , Congress government ,Assam, Assembly poll 2016, Arabinda Rajkhowa, United Liberation Front of Asom, scheduled tribe, Other Backward Cast

Assam Assembly poll: BJP eyes ordinance to change poll dynamics , Assam Assembly poll , Assam Assembly Election 2016 , Congress government ,Assam, Assembly poll 2016, Arabinda Rajkhowa, United Liberation Front of Asom, scheduled tribe, Other Backward Castes

To steal show over Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in Assam ahead of assembly elections due in April next year, BJP government is preparing to grant scheduled tribe status to six communities that right now are clubbed as Other Backward Castes (OBCs).

Sources said that as the bill to grant status to these six communities - Tai Ahom, Moran, Muttock, Koch Rajbongshi, 97 groups of tea tribes and Adivasis and Sooteas - is still stuck at cabinet note stage and given the current status of Parliament logjam, the government may bring in an ordinance within next two months.

Technically, the Centre can bring in an ordinance after the end of winter session of Parliament on December 23 as government cannot promulgate ordinances when Parliament is in session.

Sources said that PMO could either decide to take up change in rules for granting ST status in a cabinet meeting or directly approve an ordinance in which case, the Parliament will have to pass a constitutional amendment within six months from the issuance of the ordinance.

The BJP knows that promulgation of an ordinance could drastically improve its chances in coming state assembly elections as it would pave the way for sealing a peace accord with the pro-talks faction of United Liberation

Front of Asom (ULFA) led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa. Efforts are on an advance state to make ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia a part of it. A successful peace accord with ULFA can change the election dynamics for the BJP that is already breathing down the neck of Congress in Assam.

Besides the six communities in question, a large number of native Assamese are keen to have the arrangement in place to as it would take care of the fear that stems from the influx of Bangladeshis.

Granting ST status to these communities will bring more than 40 per cent population of Assam under the tribal status that in terms of assembly strength would bring as many as 80 out of 126 assembly seats under reserved tribal status.

Gogoi government knows the impact the ordinance can have and is trying to assert its claim over it.

In fact, the process to grant scheduled tribe status to these communities had begun during fag end of Congress led UPA-II rule, it could not pick up speed as it required inclusion of five norms to declare a community as scheduled tribe.

These included socio-economic, including educational backwardness vis-à-vis rest of the population of the state; historical geographical location; consideration of autonomous religious practices where the priests or ojas are from the community; distinct language or dialect; presence of a core culture relating to life-style, marriage, songs, dances, paintings and folklore; and, endogamy or marital relationship primarily with other Scheduled Tribes.
src:dnaindia

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