New Delhi: Apparently with an eye on the coming elections, the government on June 5 decided to include certain new castes and communities in central list of other backward classes (OBCs) in various states including Delhi, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Union Cabinet at its meeting presided over by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, an official spokesman said in Delhi, julaha-ansari, idrishi, naddaf, mansoori and salmani would be included in the central OBC list.

Delhi will have Assembly elections along with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh later this year and the inclusion of these communities is seen as an attempt to woo the Muslim community ahead of the polls.

In Rajasthan, silawat community, except sompura muritkar, will now be included in the OBC list the spokesman said.

He said the Cabinet also approved the inclusion of turupu kapu of vizianagram, who are subject to social custom of divorce and remarriages among their women folk.

In Karnataka, gouda/gowda in rural areas have also been included.

PTI