While a section of the Muslim community has been demanding an increase in the reservation quota for Muslims, BJP Minority Morcha National Secretary Vellore Syed Ibrahim submitted a petition at the Madurai Collectorate claiming that such a demand is against the tenets of Islam.
The lone Muslim minister in the C. Joseph Vijay-led TVK government, Minister for Minorities Welfare A.M. Shahjahan, recently announced that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had requested an increase in the Muslim reservation quota from the existing 3.5% to 5% within the Backward Classes quota in the state.
This has triggered outrage from other communities and Hindu organisations, which argue that there can be no reservation on the basis of religion, a principle they say has been consistently upheld by the courts.
இஸ்லாமியர்களை ஏமாற்றும் இட ஒதுக்கீடு நாடகம் இனி செல்லாது. #MuslimReservation@BJP4India @BJP4TamilNadu @blsanthosh @NitinNabin @NainarBJP @HRajaBJP pic.twitter.com/XNB3RwkqZb
— Syed Ibrahim (@syedibrahimbabl) July 1, 2026
He said, “We made the demand to the Chief Minister recently. He has assured us that he will consider our demand. We firmly believe it will be increased in the coming days.”
BJP leader Ibrahim told the media, “The TN government should immediately cancel the 3.5% internal reservation granted to converted Muslims as per the Madras High Court.”
“TN govt should immediately cancel 3.5% internal reservation granted to converted Muslims as per Madras HC.”
– BJP leader Vellore Ibrahim submits petition at Madurai Collectorate pic.twitter.com/bTXNrhkEaZ
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) June 29, 2026
Hindu Munnani State President Kadeswara Subramaniam, in a statement, opposed such demands, saying they were against the provisions of the Constitution.
மத ரீதியிலான இட ஒதுக்கீடு, அரசியல் சாசனத்திற்கு எதிரானது. இந்து முன்னணி கடும் கண்டனம்- மாநிலத் தலைவர் காடேஸ்வரா சி. சுப்பிரமணியம் அவர்களின் பத்திரிகை அறிக்கை..#resevations#MinisterShahjahan#இடஒதுக்கீடு#இந்துமுன்னணி#தமிழகஅரசு#tvk#tngovthttps://t.co/gaEfEk91gO… pic.twitter.com/H5DVt0Qm9W
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) June 17, 2026
Meanwhile, a post on X said, “Tamil Nadu Minister seeks an increase in Muslim reservation from 3.5% to 5% within the Backward Classes quota. IUML Minister Shahjahan says, ‘We have already placed the demand before Chief Minister Vijay. We believe Muslim reservation will increase in Tamil Nadu.'”
BIG NEWS 🚨
Tamilnadu Minister seeks increase in Muslim Reservation from 3.5% to 5% within the Backward Classes quota.
IUML Minister Shahjahan says "We have already placed the demand before Chief Minister Vijay. We believe Muslim reservation will increase in Tamilnadu" pic.twitter.com/jrPathVhMY
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) June 16, 2026
Senior BJP leader H. Raja said in a post, “Already, with the 3.5% reservation for Muslims in jobs and educational institutions, the Backward Class community has been affected and has lost its representation. In this scenario, increasing it to 5% would deprive them of the remaining benefits available to them. Why has the TVK government maintained silence on this serious issue? It should provide a proper explanation to the public.”
முஸ்லீம்களுக்கான இட ஒதுக்கீட்டை 3.5%- இல் இருந்து 5%- ஆக உயர்த்த வேண்டும் என்று சிறுபான்மை நலத்துறை அமைச்சர் ஷாஜகான் கூறியிருப்பது, ஏற்கனவே இருக்கும் 3.5% ஒதுக்கீட்டால் பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட இந்து மக்கள் பிரதிநிதித்துவத்தை இழந்து தவிக்கும் நிலையில், இதனை மேலும் விரிவுபடுத்துவது… pic.twitter.com/tRN168VAab
— H Raja (@HRajaBJP) June 15, 2026
Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran said in a post, “Before the government considers the demand for increasing the reservation for Muslims from the existing 3.5% to 5%, it should make the TVK government’s stand on the Muslim reservation policy public. If it accepts this demand, it will pave the way for the disintegration of the country. It should neither consider nor bow to such sedition-oriented demands. The TVK government should clarify whether it intends to destroy the social and communal harmony of Tamil Nadu. If so, it should immediately reconsider and announce its stand openly to the public.”
He urged the TVK-led government to drop any such proposal, saying, “Some Hindus belonging to the Backward Classes have already lost the benefits of reservation owing to the existing 3.5% reservation for Muslims in Tamil Nadu, and any further increase would reduce the number of Backward Class Hindus benefiting from the reservation.”
TN BJP Youth Wing functionary S.G. Surya said, “The mask of the TVK’s alternative politics has fallen. For vote-bank politics, it has now laid its hands on reservation meant for Hindus. The TVK government, which has failed to improve educational standards or generate employment, has now adopted the secessionist tool of increasing Muslim reservation from 3.5% to 5%, which is nothing but blatant religious appeasement.
As per the Constitution, there is no provision for religion-based reservation. Despite this, if the TVK bows to this demand, the proposal will shrink opportunities for BC/MBC communities and Hindu youth preparing for competitive examinations and employment. Vijay, who spoke from public platforms about equality, social justice, and caste- and religion-free politics, has proved after coming to power that his government is even worse than the DMK. Why has it stooped to such politics?”
த.வெ.க-வின் மாற்று அரசியல் முகமூடி கிழிந்தது: வாக்கு வங்கி அரசியலுக்காக இந்துக்களின் இட ஒதுக்கீட்டில் கையாடல்!
வேலைவாய்ப்பையோ, கல்வித் தரத்தையோ உயர்த்த முடியாத தவெக அரசு, தற்போது பிரிவினைவாதத்தைக் கையில் எடுத்துள்ளது. இஸ்லாமியர்களுக்கான இடஒதுக்கீட்டை 5%-ஆக உயர்த்துவோம் என்ற… pic.twitter.com/cElPFAYXwt
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) June 15, 2026
Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK) chief Arjun Sampath said, “Increasing Muslim reservation from 3.5% to 5% will further shrink opportunities for other Backward Class communities. Any change in reservation policy must be transparent, data-driven, and consistent with the principles of social justice and equal opportunity for all.”
Increasing Muslim reservation from 3.5%-5% will further shrink opportunities for other backward communities, says Arjun Sampath. Any change in reservation policy must be transparent, data-driven, and consistent with the principles of social justice and equal opportunity for all. pic.twitter.com/vcqP6wlbCc
— Indu Makkal Katchi (off) (@Indumakalktchi) June 15, 2026
The Tamil Nadu BJP has said, “The TVK government should drop any proposal to increase the reservation for Muslims from 3.5% to 5%. It should make its stand public in order to protect the interests and social justice framework of the people of Tamil Nadu.”
It is pertinent to mention that under the DMK, Tamil Nadu implements an internal 3.5% reservation for Backward Class Muslims within the larger Backward Classes quota. This was originally introduced by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Earlier, the DMK government had also agreed to consult legal experts on extending reservation benefits to Backward Class (BC), Most Backward Class (MBC), and Denotified Community members who had converted to Islam.
In Tamil Nadu, the reservation structure operates within a fixed framework. The BC category accounts for 30% of total reservations, of which Hindu and other non-Muslim BC communities receive 26.5%, while the Muslim sub-quota accounts for 3.5%. If the proposal is accepted, the distribution would become: Hindu and other non-Muslim BC communities – 25%; Muslim sub-quota – 5%.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) president M.H. Jawahirullah, along with party cadres, staged a protest on June 30 against the recent order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court quashing the 2024 Tamil Nadu Government Order that allowed OBCs who had converted to Islam to avail reservation benefits under the Backward Class Muslims (BCM) category in government jobs and educational admissions. He appealed to the TVK government to nullify the court order.
He told the media, “The DMK government had extended reservation benefits to BCM members who converted to Islam, which has now been cancelled. We are protesting against the order.”
Critics say, “If reservation percentages begin expanding or contracting based on political leverage rather than objective data, the entire credibility of the reservation system comes under threat. Social justice cannot become a reward for political support.”
They further point out that the Supreme Court has already placed a cap on Tamil Nadu’s reservation policy. Currently, the state provides 69% reservation across various categories. A petition seeking to retain this framework is pending before the Apex Court. In any case, any redistribution has to remain within the overall 69% reservation limit.
