Tamil Nadu election 2026 | Reserved constituencies: procedural success, and yet a political struggle
Explore the gap between reserved constituencies' numerical representation and the effective empowerment of Dalit and tribal leaders in Tamil Nadu.
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Reservation, as envisaged by the framers of the Constitution, was primarily intended as an affirmative action measure to ensure political representation for historically marginalised groups — specifically the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST).When the Constitution introduced reservation via Article 330 and Article 332, the goal was not just charity, but to ensure that those who had been excluded from the social fabric for centuries had a guaranteed seat at the table where laws were made.
This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at The Hindu.