Congress leader demands SC reservation for Karnataka panchayat constituencies

A prominent Congress leader has formally requested that Pattan and Nandikur zilla panchayat constituencies in Karnataka be granted scheduled caste (SC) reservations, arguing that the community has been systematically excluded from representation at both district and taluk levels for more than three decades.

The legislator contends that the prolonged absence of SC representation constitutes both a social and political injustice to the community members within these constituencies. According to his submission, despite the constitutional mandate for affirmative action in local governance structures, the two constituencies have failed to provide reserved seats for scheduled castes across multiple election cycles.

The demand underscores ongoing concerns about the implementation of reservation policies in panchayati raj institutions across southern Indian states. Karnataka's local body elections have frequently faced scrutiny regarding the allocation and rotation of reserved constituencies, with various communities citing inadequate representation.

The request comes as several states reassess their reservation frameworks for local government bodies to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions and address historical disparities. Officials are expected to examine demographic data and historical representation patterns in the two constituencies as part of the review process.

The timing of the intervention reflects broader political engagement by regional parties in addressing grassroots governance concerns as local body elections approach.