Chennai: Affirmative action clothed in any form is a political hot potato across the country. And, Tamil Nadu is no exception. The exclusive 10.5 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Class (OBC) Vanniyar community now hangs in balance. Brought in by the previous AIADMK government of EPS, barely half an hour before the model code of conduct for the Assembly poll came into force, its implementation is facing bottlenecks, including legal challenges and public protests. Though admissions for the current academic year have commenced, the new DMK government of MK Stalin is yet to take a call on this sensitive issue.
The exclusive quota for the Vanniyars, concentrated in the northern districts, was a long pending demand of the PMK and the party had made it a precondition for joining the AIADMK alliance for the Assembly elections. Caving into the demand, EPS, brushing aside resistance within the party ranks, passed the Bill on February 26, the last day of the 15th Assembly. On the same day, it received the Governor's assent and was notified in the gazette.
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The law provides for internal reservation of 10.5 per cent for Vanniyars and 24 other subsects of the community from within the 20 per cent quota for the MBCs. Apprehensive of a large chunk going to the Vanniyars, 90 other communities in the MBC have protested against it. According to political observers, this has cost the AIADMK dearly in the Assembly poll as the Thevar community, considered to be its captive vote bank in the southern districts have largely deserted it. In the northern districts too it had backfired, resulting in a non-Vanniyar consolidation as the move was seen as apparent appeasement of the PMK. Even the PMK could win only 4 of the 23 seats it had contested in its stronghold.
Even without waiting for the Justice (Retd) A Kulasekaran Commission to submit its report on caste-wise enumeration constituted in the backdrop of the PMK's agitation in December, EPS had yielded to the PMK's demand to save the alliance. The panel is yet to submit its report.
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Earlier, Chief Minister MK Stalin, intervening in the Assembly during the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address, assured PMK leader GK Mani that a decision would be taken on the implementation of the Vanniyar quota after detailed discussions with the officials of the departments concerned. It is an indication that the government is not in a hurry but is yet to weigh the pros and cons of implementing it. Further, the Judiciary is also seized of the matter, giving a long rope to the government.
Plus two examination results have been announced and the admission process in academic institutions have already commenced. The deadline for submitting applications for the 51 polytechnics in the state has expired while admission to engineering programmes as well as arts and science colleges and universities is set to pick up the pace. Medical admission is also on the anvil with the announcement of dates for the NEET examination.
It is a legacy of the previous AIADMK regime and as such, the DMK's steps in this direction might be measured.
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