Ranchi, July 20: The Jharkhand Janadhikar Party (JJP) has demanded an increase in the quota for the other backward castes (OBCs) in the state, with emphasis on special privileges for the momins (weavers) in the muslim community.

This sudden stance by the tribal body has come at a time when the caste and sub-caste groups have mounted pressure on the government demanding a population-wise reservation in the scheduled and non-scheduled areas in the Panchayat elections.

The party feels that the OBCs have only 14 per cent reservation in Jharkhand and has demanded that the quota be increased to 27 per cent.

Political observers said the move by the JPP chief is to woo the caste groups, which are up in arms against the reservation to tribals in the Panchayats.

But, the JJP chief and Mandar MLA, Bandhu Tirkey, denied this claim. ?It is a fact that the domicile issue has united the tribals and the moolvasis (original settlers) in the state. Together, the tribals and the moolvasis have become a very strong political force in the state,? Tirkey said.

Accusing the BJP of trying to spark off a social divide for political gains, the JJP chief said following the unity among the tribals and the original settlers, the BJP was wiped out in the parliamentary elections.

After the elections, the BJP was left with only one seat, out of the total of 14 in the state.

This is the reason that the first card the BJP played was creating a dent in the unity of ?sadans? and tribals by playing the ?kurmi? card, added the JJP chief.