The imbroglio over panchayat elections is not over. It has been reported that the OBC Commission has ready data of a 2013 survey of OBCs by a Pune based agency.
The Government should not brave it to hold elections based on this 2013 data as it is 9 years old. Further, the OBC population pattern could have varied since 2013, with their population increasing in some Panchayats.
The Supreme Court in its triple test has mandated rigorous empirical data. Using the 2013 data and hurrying up with elections would invite unnecessary Writ Petitions.
A wise step would be to hold elections after 4 months, upon carrying out necessary empirical data collection as on date.
