Maharashtra Elections 2024: Sharad Pawar seeks legal amendment to increase reservation cap to 75%

NCP supreme Sharad Pawar has batted for an increase in the quota limit from the existing 50 percent to 75 percent. (PTI Photo/File)

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad pawar on Friday demanded that the central government bring a proposal to increase the cap on reservation to 75 percent from the existing limit of 50 percent.

Promising to back the government if it brings such a proposal, Pawar highlighted the need to increase reservations while ensuring that the existing quota is not disturbed.

"Everyone has this feeling that they should get reservation…But while doing this, we should also keep in mind that the reservation being given to other people should also be protected,” Pawar said addressing a press conference in Mumbai.

Pawar said that since rules do not permit reservations beyond 50 percent, exceeding the limit would require a change in laws. “Why would anybody have a problem changing the law? Right now, the reservation cap is 50 percent. It can be easily increased to 75 percent,” Pawar told reporters.

Pawar further assured that his party would support the proposal to increase reservations from the current limit of 50 percent to 75 percent and urged the Centre to bring a law on the same.