Citing vacancies, Kharge says Modi government is trying to end reservation through the back door
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the BJP government of undermining reservation policies by leaving over 8.2 lakh central government posts vacant. He argues that the increase in contractual labor and the sale of public sector units are deliberate strategies to bypass constitutional safeguards for marginalized communities.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant political debate regarding social justice, employment, and the future of affirmative action in India's public sector.
The Congress on Monday (August 24, 2026) accused the Narendra Modi government of seeking to undermine reservation through what it termed a “back door” route, citing more than 8.2 lakh sanctioned posts lying vacant across civilian Central government establishments.
The figures showed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s policy of “conspiring to end” the constitutional rights of disadvantaged communities had been exposed, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
The charge came amid the ongoing “reservation hatao ” (remove reservation) campaign, seeking to end caste-based reservations in government jobs and educational institutions.
Sharing a Ministry-wise breakup of the vacancies on social media platform X, Mr. Kharge said the number had risen from 4.21 lakh in 2015 to 8.24 lakh in 2024.
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