A sharp political dispute over SC/ST reservation has exposed fresh differences within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, with Union Minister Chirag Paswan demanding the resignation of fellow Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his son, Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman.
The confrontation centres on a demand by Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) for changes in the existing reservation system, including sub-categorisation within SC/ST quotas so that the benefits reach communities considered more disadvantaged.
The issue has brought two NDA allies from Bihar directly against each other at a politically sensitive time, with reservation once again becoming a major national debate.
Why Are Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi Fighting?
The dispute began after HAM(S) called for a review of SC/ST reservation and supported the idea of dividing the existing quota into sub-categories.
Santosh Suman has argued that reviewing the system does not mean ending reservation. Instead, he says the aim is to ensure that the most marginalised communities receive a fair share of the benefits.
The HAM(S) has particularly highlighted the position of the Mushahar community, to which the Manjhi family belongs. The party has questioned why some communities have achieved greater representation while several extremely backward Dalit groups remain poorly represented.
HAM(S) president Santosh Suman said: “We are in favour of SC/ST sub-categorisation. We are simply asking for a review of the SC/ST quotas. We want quota benefits to reach the least privileged among us.”
The party has also pointed to the Supreme Court’s August 2024 Constitution Bench judgment, which allowed states to create sub-classifications within SC/ST groups to ensure benefits reach more disadvantaged communities.
Chirag Paswan Takes Strong Stand
Chirag Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is also an NDA ally, strongly opposes the proposal.
Paswan argues that SC/ST reservation is intended to address social discrimination and untouchability, rather than differences in income or economic status.
He said those advocating a creamy layer within SC reservation should first give up the benefits they themselves have received.”Those asking why there should not be a creamy layer should first give up the benefits of reservation. If Jitan Ram Manjhi believes in the creamy layer concept, he should first resign. His son should resign too.”
Paswan further warned that introducing economic criteria into SC reservation could weaken the fight against caste-based discrimination. “Otherwise, the way society will be divided, the fight for social justice will lose its meaning. Dalits would continue to face discrimination.”
He also said that if Manjhi continued to support a creamy-layer approach based on economic criteria, he should be the first to step aside.
Manjhi Camp Hits Back
The confrontation did not end with Paswan’s statement.
Santosh Suman hit back at Paswan and said the LJP(RV) leader should resign first. He also argued that sub-categorisation and the creamy-layer issue are two different matters, pushing back against the way Paswan has linked the two.
This has turned what began as a policy disagreement into a public political confrontation between two important NDA allies.
Supreme Court Verdict Behind the Debate
The current political battle is linked to the Supreme Court’s landmark 2024 ruling on SC/ST sub-classification.
The Constitution Bench held that states can create sub-classifications among SC/ST communities to ensure that the most disadvantaged groups are able to benefit from reservation.
The separate question of a creamy layer remains controversial. The Centre has maintained that the creamy-layer principle applicable to OBC reservation cannot simply be extended to SCs and STs.
The debate has therefore created two distinct positions within the NDA.
Manjhi’s HAM(S) wants greater internal distribution of reservation benefits, arguing that some of the most disadvantaged Dalit communities have remained behind.
Paswan’s LJP(RV) opposes sub-categorisation and argues that SC/ST reservation must continue to address social discrimination rather than economic differences.
A New Test for NDA Unity
The public clash between two Union ministers is significant because both Manjhi and Paswan are members of the NDA government.
With both sides refusing to soften their positions, the reservation issue could become an important political subject in Bihar.
For now, what started as a debate over quota within quota has escalated into an open confrontation involving demands for ministerial resignations.
The bigger question is whether the NDA can maintain a common position on reservation while its key Bihar allies take sharply different stands on one of the country’s most sensitive social and political issues.
