Archive · 9 Oct 2026
MP OBC Quota Row Deepens as BJP, Congress Trade Blame
A court has kept the OBC reservation in Madhya Pradesh at 14%.
Congress says the BJP government did not make a strong enough case for a larger quota.
It says the government should take the issue to the Supreme Court.
BJP says Congress made mistakes when it tried to increase the quota in 2019.
BJP leader Hemant Khandelwal says his party still wants a 27% quota for OBCs.
He says the government will consider legal advice before deciding what to do next.
The two parties disagree about who is responsible for the court outcome.
The court maintained Madhya Pradesh’s 14% OBC reservation, rejecting the government’s case for a higher quota.
Congress leaders blamed the BJP government, citing weak arguments and insufficient data on OBC social and educational backwardness.
Jitu Patwari said Congress would pursue the issue in the Supreme Court and urged the government to file a special leave petition.
BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal blamed Congress’s 2019 ordinance and said the government remained committed to a 27% quota.
The government said it would decide its next steps after consulting lawyers.
- Who
- Madhya Pradesh’s BJP and Congress leaders, and the court considering the OBC reservation case.
- What
- The court maintained a 14% OBC quota, prompting the parties to blame each other and debate a proposed 27% quota.
- When
- The article does not specify when the court decision was issued; it refers to a Congress ordinance in 2019.
- Where
- Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Why
- The dispute concerns the court’s rejection of the government’s case for a higher OBC quota and the parties’ competing accounts of responsibility.
Congress’s view
BJP’s view
Responsibility for the court outcome
Congress’s view
Congress leaders say the BJP government’s weak court arguments and lack of sufficient data led to the rejection of the higher quota.
BJP’s view
BJP leaders say Congress’s 2019 ordinance lacked a proper study and failed to cite special circumstances for exceeding the 50% reservation limit.
What should happen next
Congress’s view
Jitu Patwari called for a Supreme Court appeal and an assembly session to explain the government’s plans.
BJP’s view
Hemant Khandelwal says the BJP government remains committed to a 27% OBC quota and will decide after consulting lawyers.
- Current quota
- 14% for OBCs, as maintained by the court.
- Quota sought
- 27% for OBCs.
- Congress allegation
- The BJP government presented weak arguments and insufficient data on OBC social and educational backwardness.
- BJP allegation
- Congress lacked a proper study when it brought the reservation ordinance in 2019.
- Congress proposal
- Jitu Patwari urged the government to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court and hold an assembly session.
- Government next step
- The government said it would decide after seeking lawyers’ advice.