The Congress has decided to support the Modi government’s decision to provide 10% reservation to ‘economically backward’ candidates belonging to castes that do not come under the 50% quota meant for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, said: “Congress welcomes the Modi government’s decision to provide 10% quota for economically backward candidates of all castes in government jobs and admissions in aided and unaided schools and colleges.”

While endorsing reservation for economically poor classes irrespective of caste, Mr. Venugopal questioned the timing of the announcement of the decision. He frowned upon the intention behind the Modi government and sought to know where all the jobs earlier promised were.

‘No threat’

Asked about the dissidence among legislators on the appointments to boards and corporations, Mr. Venugopal said he had spoken to MLAs who had expressed their anger against the JD(S) leadership. “There is no threat to the government and we will fight the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the JD(S),” he said. On seat sharing, Mr. Venugopal said the party had not held talks with the JD(S) on sharing of seats as yet.

Door-to-door visits

Congress leaders will undertake visits to each and every household in the State from January 26 to February 15 and inform people about the “failures of the NDA Government,” said Mr. Venugopal.