Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Deletes '100% Job Quota' Post After Backlash, Labour Minister Clarifies

After the post was deleted, Labour Minister Santosh clarified that the reservation policy will be capped at 70 percent for non-management roles and 50 percent for management-level in private firms.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah deleted a social media post announcing a 100 percent reservation for Kannadigas in all Group C and Group D jobs in private companies across the state on Tuesday. The initial announcement was made following a Cabinet meeting but was quickly clarified by Labour Minister Santosh Lad who said that quota in jobs in private firms would be capped at 70 per cent for non-management roles and 50 per cent for management-level employees.

In the now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Siddaramaiah had stated, "The Cabinet meeting held yesterday approved a bill to make recruitment of 100 percent Kannadigas mandatory for 'C and D' grade posts in all private industries in the state." He also reiterated the government's commitment to the welfare of Kannadigas, stating, "We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of the Kannadigas."

After the post was deleted, Labour Minister Santosh Lad clarified that the reservation policy will be capped at 70 percent for non-management roles and 50 percent for management-level employees in private firms.

Lad explained, "At the management level, it has been decided to provide reservation to 50% of the people. At the non-management level, it has been decided to provide work to 70%... If such skills are not available, people can be outsourced and they can be given work here. But the government is trying to bring in a law to give preference to locally available skills - if it is available here."