The Congress government plans to pass a bill in the State Legislature next month to enhance reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) as promised by Congress party in 2023 Assembly elections. The proposed move would mean that total reservations will go far beyond the Supreme Court ceiling of 50 per cent. The Congress party wants to put the ball in the Centre’s court by forwarding the bill for its approval. The BJP is trying to counter Congress by raking up the issue of Muslim reservation. The party leaders have made it clear that including Muslims in the list of BCs is unacceptable to them. The entire exercise of discussing and passing the bill is likely to turn into a fierce spat among the three parties with every party blaming the two others. The issue of BC reservation hit the spotlight after the Congress government conducted a caste survey, which revealed that BCs constitute 56.33 per cent (including 10 per cent BC Muslims) Both BRS and BJP raised doubts about the survey and demanded Congress to explain why the BC population declined.
