On December 22, 2011the Union Cabinet approved reservation for minorities under the Other Backward Castes category and decided to give 4.5% sub-quota to minorities to be carved out from the existing quota of 27% for the OBC.

The resurgent Congress under Rahul Gandhi expects to make the most gain from the policy shift in favour of minorities, especially Muslims, who play a decisive role in as many as two dozen constituencies in the state.

Predictably, the Opposition especially the BJP denounced move as being opportunistic, saying that it was timed with an eye on the Assembly elections.

The Samajwadi Party supports the quota but is wondering how to prevent the Congress from making gains from it.

Although, the Election Commission has put the minority quota on hold but it continues to be a rallying point in the election.