Pune Lawyers Demand Clarity From Election Commission On Caste-Based Reservation Promises Ahead Of Maharashtra Assembly Elections
Pune, October 30, 2024: Four advocates from Pune have issued a legal notice to the State Election Commission (SEC), seeking urgent clarification on whether political promises related to caste and religion-based reservations during election campaigning could be considered as appeasement and potentially violate the Model Code of Conduct.
In their notice, advocates Asim Sarode, Shriya Awale, Balkrishna Nidhalkar, and Ramesh Taru raised concerns about specific reservations, such as increasing Muslim and OBC reservations, and granting benefits to Dhangar and Maratha communities. They emphasized the need for clear guidelines to ensure a fair electoral process as campaigning for the Maharashtra State Assembly Elections 2024 intensifies.
Sarode explained that the notice aims to determine whether promises of reservations based on caste or religion for vote-gathering purposes would breach the Model Code of Conduct. He questioned whether such actions could be classified as offenses under existing laws.
He further urged the SEC to hold a press conference to clarify these issues, stressing the importance of knowing whether political leaders can publicly discuss caste and religion-based reservations during their campaigns without risking allegations of appeasement.
The advocates expressed their expectation for a swift response regarding the legality of discussing or promising reservations based on caste and religion during the campaign. They noted that this legal notice aims to promote free and fair elections, and early clarification on the matter could help avoid unnecessary complaints and criminalization of related offenses.