Patna, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Differences within the NDA over the future of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe reservations came to the fore in Bihar on Saturday, with Union Minister Chirag Paswan strongly opposing demands by former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his son, state minister Santosh Suman, for changes to the existing reservation framework.
Paswan rejected calls for introducing a “creamy layer” provision in SC/ST reservations and said those advocating such a measure should first resign from their positions.
He argued that SC/ST reservation was not intended to address economic disadvantage but was created to tackle centuries of social discrimination, exclusion and untouchability. Any proposal to alter the system, he said, was a sensitive matter that required discussion in Parliament rather than political rhetoric.
Manjhi and Santosh Suman have been advocating sub-categorisation and a “quota within a quota” in SC/ST reservations, contending that reservation benefits have not been distributed equally among all communities.
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Santosh Suman has maintained that their demand is not for ending reservation but for ensuring that communities which remain deprived receive their due share.
Paswan, however, cautioned against viewing reservation primarily through the economic lens, saying such an approach could dilute its original objective. He called for a wider constitutional and parliamentary debate before any changes are considered.
The Union minister also turned his criticism towards the Congress, questioning the responsibility of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his party over continuing social discrimination despite the Congress having governed the country for long periods.
The disagreement assumes significance in Bihar, where Paswan and the Manjhi-Suman camp are both seeking to establish their political credentials among marginalised communities but have adopted differing positions on the reservation system.
The latest exchange has also highlighted the challenge before NDA constituents in Bihar to arrive at a common position on the politically sensitive issue, with the possibility of further differences remaining a key factor in the state’s Dalit politics.
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