The Janata Dal (Secular), an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has distanced itself from the saffron party’s opposition to the four percent reservation for Muslims in government tenders.

The party has made it clear that while it will support the BJP on issues such as price hikes, corruption, and governance failures, it cannot back its stand against Muslim reservation.

“We will not compromise on the party’s ideology and principles. We will support the BJP in the fight against price hike, guarantees not reaching people, maladministration, corruption etc. But, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda had provided 4 per cent reservation for Muslims. Therefore, we cannot support the BJP in this fight,” party sources told Deccan Herald.

The issue was discussed at a JD(S) meeting in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 22, where party leaders advised legislators to refrain from joining BJP-led protests against the reservation policy.

The party also directed its floor leader in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Suresh Babu, to communicate this stance clearly when questioned by the media.

Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra reaffirmed his party’s opposition to the reservation, calling it unconstitutional.

“Muslim reservation is against the Constitution. We will take this fight against the Congress to a logical end. We will discuss with the party leaders and plan the agitation soon,” he said.

The BJP is preparing for a large-scale protest against what it calls "injustice" by the Congress government, even as its NDA ally, JD(S), refuses to join the campaign.