Jaipur, April 2 -- Ahead of the upcoming local body polls in the state, senior BJP leaders have written to the chief minister seeking 4% horizontal reservation for persons with disabilities in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies. The demand, raised by senior party leaders Rajendra Rathore and Satish Poonia, has gained momentum following formal representations sent to chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. Both leaders have urged the state government to introduce reservation for disabled people in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies, a move being seen as both a step towards social justice and a strategic electoral calculation. In their communication to the chief minister, Rathore and Poonia forwarded a representation based on a memorandum submitted by the Divyang Adhikar Mahasangh. The memorandum highlights that despite demonstrating strong performance across sectors such as education, administration, sports, and business, persons with disabilities remain largely excluded from political representation. The document underlines that Rajasthan has a significant specially abled population - estimated at over 1.50 million - and stresses the urgent need to integrate them into the democratic framework. It calls for introducing 4% horizontal reservation in local body elections, on the lines of provisions already available in government employment. The proposal argues that such a mechanism would operate within existing reservation categories and would not disturb the current structure, but rather ensure equitable representation within each category. The memorandum also points out that similar recommendations were made in 2009, 2018, and 2021, but have yet to be implemented. Stakeholders have urged the state government to take a policy decision at the earliest and translate these long-pending recommendations into action. According to the proposal, the model of horizontal reservation would function within the existing reservation framework. For instance, if 100 Sarpanch posts are reserved for Scheduled Castes, four of those could be earmarked for persons with disabilities within the same category, ensuring representation without altering the broader quota system. With nearly 1.56 million persons with disabilities in Rajasthan, this voter segment is being viewed as potentially decisive in local body elections. Political observers believe the BJP is attempting to expand its support base by advocating political inclusion for persons with disabilities, thereby projecting a governance model rooted in inclusivity while also strengthening its outreach among socially sensitive groups. National Chairman of the Divyang Adhikar Mahasangh, Dr Hemant Bhai Goyal, said recent announcements in the Union Budget 2026-27 under the Divyang Skill Development Scheme reflect a growing policy focus on empowerment through skill training, self-employment, and rehabilitation initiatives. He emphasized that persons with disabilities have proven their capabilities across diverse fields whenever given opportunities, but continue to remain underrepresented in political and decision-making institutions. He noted that political participation is a constitutional right, drawing attention to provisions under Articles 14, 15, and 41, which guarantee equality, prohibit discrimination, and mandate state support for vulnerable sections. As per Census 2011, India has around 26.8 million persons with disabilities, while Rajasthan accounts for approximately 1.563 million. With disability categories expanding from 7 to 21 in recent years, the scope of inclusion has widened significantly. While around 3% of the population is officially categorized as disabled, the broader social impact extends to nearly 12% of the population when families are taken into account. Notably, a step in this direction was taken in 2021, when the Rajasthan government introduced a provision to nominate one person with disability as a councillor in every urban local body. However, advocacy groups have argued that nomination alone is insufficient, and elected representation through reservation is essential for meaningful political inclusion. Rathore and Poonia, in their appeal, have urged the chief minister to examine the proposal and initiate necessary action, stating that implementing 4% horizontal reservation would mark a significant step towards inclusive governance and social justice in Rajasthan. Commenting on the development, Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully said it was the Congress government that worked on their empowerment and introduced a nominated councillor in local bodies, and that any further steps in this direction would be welcome....