The Janata Dal (Secular), a key ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, is facing a Catch-22 situation over whether to back the controversial 4% Muslim quota in government contracts under the 2B category or side with its alliance partner BJP to oppose it.
The Karnataka Congress government recently passed a bill on Friday, introducing a 4% reservation for minorities in government contracts, despite strong opposition from the BJP. This move has placed JD(S) in a precarious position, given its alliance with the BJP, which has vehemently opposed the bill.
Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, who also serves as the JD(S) state president, is expected to clarify the party’s stance during an important meeting in New Delhi on Monday, according to party sources. It is speculated that Kumaraswamy may align with the BJP and oppose the quota, as JD(S) has historically leaned toward supporting the party in key matters.
JD(S) legislature leader CB Suresh Babu remarked that the party would deliberate with former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy before making its final decision. “While the bill proposes a 4% quota for Muslims under category 2B, we will also press for extending quotas to backward classes, such as the Madivala and Uppara communities,” Suresh Babu said.
This bill, titled the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed by the state legislature, has stirred significant controversy. The BJP, led by opposition leader R Ashoka, claims that the bill is unconstitutional and aims to appease minority groups ahead of elections. The BJP delegation, which included JD(S) leader Suresh Babu, met the Governor to voice their concerns over the bill’s constitutionality.
As tensions rise, JD(S) faces an internal dilemma—whether to maintain its alliance with the BJP or risk alienating the minority community, especially given that HD Deve Gowda played a pivotal role in securing a 4% quota for Muslims in the past.
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