The Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka is embroiled in a fresh controversy over reports of a proposal to give Muslims 4% reservation in public sector construction contracts under category 2B of OBCs. Sources suggest this could be included in a plan for a higher 47% quota for government contracts, which could be tabled during the upcoming winter session of the Assembly. The BJP has strongly criticized the Congress-led government, accusing it of diverting quotas meant for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to benefit Muslims. Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that the move was politically motivated and harmful to other backward communities. However, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) rejected any concrete proposal to allocate a Muslim quota in government contracts. The CMO clarified that the existing quotas for SCs, STs and OBCs remain intact and the government is evaluating similar requests from other communities. Congress MP Mahesh Tenginkai suggested that the BJP is using the issue as a political weapon to target the Congress in poll-bound states like Maharashtra and Jharkhand. As the debate heats up, the proposal, if followed through, will trigger fresh political battles in Karnataka and beyond.