The Karnataka government is set to introduce a 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in government tenders up to Rs 1 crore, a move that has sparked political controversy. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly opposed the proposal, accusing the ruling Congress of engaging in appeasement politics. The state Cabinet is expected to discuss and clear the amendment today.

The proposed reservation will be introduced as an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act. This amendment seeks to create a new Category II(B), under which Muslim contractors will be eligible for reservation in government contracts. This categorisation aligns with existing provisions that already provide reservations for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) contractors.

According to the draft proposal, the amendment will update the legal text to incorporate “Category-I, Category-II(A), and Category-II(B)” in relevant provisions of the Act. Additionally, Category-II(B) will include backward classes designated under this category by government orders, without considering income-based criteria.

The BJP has strongly opposed the Congress government’s move, alleging that the decision is motivated by vote-bank politics. BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra criticised the proposal, stating, “The Congress government perceives minorities as only Muslims, completely ignoring other genuinely underrepresented minority communities. Decades ago, Muslims were a minority, but today they are well-organised and at the forefront.”

Vijayendra argued that the Congress is granting special reservations in jobs and education to Muslims “against the spirit of the Constitution.” He claimed that the new quota for government contracts is another extension of this appeasement strategy. He further stated, “Instead of introducing programs, policies, or special reservations for the most backward sections, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s government has lost the moral ground to speak about backward communities.”

BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai echoed these concerns, saying, “Providing just a 4% reservation is unfair. Muslims are not the only community in need of support. Since the Congress came to power in the last two years, we have seen significant infiltration, which has influenced the Muslim community. Even the recent crime in Hubli was linked to Muslims. The Congress has continuously misled the public for the sake of its vote bank.”

In response to BJP’s allegations, the Congress defended its decision, emphasising the need for equal opportunities for all disadvantaged communities. Congress MLA Rizwan explained, “We believe in giving equal opportunities to every minority community, particularly weaker sections of society. This reservation is not for massive contracts but for small contractors. The reservation allows small-scale contractors to access opportunities up to Rs 50 lakh.”

He further justified the move by highlighting the broader demand for reservations from various minority communities, including Christians, Buddhists and Sikhs. “There has always been pressure from multiple minority groups who feel socially disempowered. Small government contracts should be accessible to all marginalised communities,” Rizwan stated.

Countering BJP’s claim of appeasement, he asked, “When we provided reservations to the Dalit community, was it considered appeasement politics? If you look at the contracting industry, you will find very few Dalits or people from backward classes as contractors. The industry is largely dominated by upper-class groups. Every socially and economically disadvantaged group should be given a fair opportunity. That is why the Congress government has pushed for this change.”

The state Cabinet is set to deliberate on the proposal today. Despite strong opposition from the BJP, the Congress government is expected to move forward with its implementation. If approved, the amendment will become part of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, providing a structured framework for reservation in government tenders.

As the debate intensifies, the BJP continues to demand the immediate withdrawal of the proposal, arguing that it would “divide society along religious lines.” However, the Congress maintains that the move is aimed at ensuring fair representation and economic upliftment of marginalised groups.

The final decision by the Cabinet will determine the future course of this policy, shaping both political narratives and economic opportunities in Karnataka.