Bengaluru: Days after deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar defended the state govt’s decision to introduce 4% reservation in govt contracts valued up to Rs 2 crore, insisting that the quota applies to all backward classes and not just the Muslim community, the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was tabled in the assembly Tuesday explicitly reserves it for Category II(B) of backward classes, which primarily consists of Muslims.
The bill, which has sparked political controversy, states, “and 4% be tendered only among the tenderers belonging to the backward castes as specified in Category II (B).” It further defines Category II(B) as those backward classes classified under this group by the state govt from time to time, without considering income criteria. The govt has justified the amendment as a means to tackle unemployment among backward classes and “to encourage their participation in such numbers of construction works, not exceeding 4% for the persons belonging to Category II (B) of the backward classes out of the total number of govt construction works up to Rs 2 crore.”
Opposition BJP and JD(S) have opposed the move, accusing the Congress govt of minority appeasement. Leader of the opposition R Ashoka said, “The bill is yet another example of the Muslim appeasement by the Congress govt. Just because the Muslims vote for the party, the Congress govt violated the principles of the constitution and gave them reservation. We will take the fight inside and outside the legislature.” BJP has vowed to challenge the bill in both houses of the state legislature.
Apart from the 4% quota for Muslims in construction contracts, the bill also introduces reservations for SC, ST, and OBC communities in the procurement of goods and services, excluding construction works, in notified departments where contract values do not exceed Rs 1 crore. The reservations include 17.15% for Scheduled Castes, 6.95% for Scheduled Tribes, 4% for Category I, 15% for Category II(A), and 4% for Category II(B).
The bill also includes a relaxation clause, allowing contracts to be opened to other bidders if no tenders from the reserved categories are received after two attempts.
Law and parliamentary affairs HK Patil, who introduced the bill in the House, claimed the Bill was being brought to address the unemployment problem.
The Bill also intends to amend Section 6 of the KTPP Act to facilitate the limit of construction works from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore for contractors belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Opposition BJP said it will challenge the decision in the Supreme Court. It has stated that the move to provide quota for Muslims has the potential to balkanise India and it is a threat to national unity. Former CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has stated that under the guise of giving reservation in contracts to backward classes, the govt has given a 4% quota for Category IIB, , which is 100% Muslims category, which has been challenged in the Supreme Court now.
The BJP-JDS combine is also planning to stall the bill in the Upper House (council) where Congress doesn’t enjoy a majority.