Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Bihar Reservation Dispute Deepens Rift Within NDA
Leaders in Bihar’s NDA alliance disagree about how SC/ST reservation benefits should be distributed.
Chirag Paswan opposes adding a creamy layer to these reservations.
He says reservations were created to address long-standing social discrimination and untouchability.
Jitan Ram Manjhi and Santosh Suman want communities receiving fewer benefits to get a larger share.
They support dividing the reserved quota into smaller parts.
Santosh Suman says this would not end reservations.
Chirag says major changes should be discussed in Parliament and through a broader constitutional debate.
He also questioned Congress and Rahul Gandhi over continuing social discrimination during Congress’s long period in power.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan opposed introducing a creamy layer in SC/ST reservations.
Jitan Ram Manjhi and Santosh Suman support sub-categorisation and a quota within a quota.
Chirag said reservations address social discrimination, exclusion and untouchability rather than economic status.
Santosh Suman said the proposed changes would ensure deprived communities receive their share, not end reservations.
The dispute has raised questions about whether Bihar’s NDA parties can reach a common position.
- Who
- Union Minister Chirag Paswan, former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, state minister Santosh Suman, Rahul Gandhi, Congress and the NDA’s constituent parties in Bihar.
- What
- NDA leaders clashed over whether SC/ST reservations should include a creamy layer or be changed through sub-categorisation and a quota within a quota.
- When
- The disagreement came into sharp focus on Saturday.
- Where
- Bihar, with the dispute discussed in Patna.
- Why
- The leaders differ over whether reservation benefits should be redistributed among communities or remain focused on addressing social discrimination rather than economic status.
Support Redistribution Within Reservations
Protect the Existing Reservation Framework
Sub-categorisation and quota distribution
Support Redistribution Within Reservations
Jitan Ram Manjhi and Santosh Suman argue that reservation benefits have not reached all SC/ST communities equally and support a quota within a quota.
Protect the Existing Reservation Framework
Chirag Paswan opposes changes that he believes could dilute the original purpose of reservation.
Creamy layer provision
Support Redistribution Within Reservations
The Manjhi-Suman camp is pressing for changes to how reservation benefits are distributed among SC/ST communities.
Protect the Existing Reservation Framework
Chirag strongly opposes introducing a creamy layer and said advocates of the move should first resign from their positions.
Basis of reservation
Support Redistribution Within Reservations
Supporters of redistribution emphasise ensuring that deprived communities receive their share of reserved benefits.
Protect the Existing Reservation Framework
Chirag says reservation is based on centuries of social discrimination, exclusion and untouchability, not economic status.
Political responsibility for discrimination
Support Redistribution Within Reservations
Chirag’s critics seek changes within the reservation system to address unequal access among marginalised communities.
Protect the Existing Reservation Framework
Chirag questioned Rahul Gandhi and Congress over their responsibility for persistent social discrimination after their long tenure in power.
- Main dispute
- The future structure and distribution of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe reservations.
- Chirag Paswan’s position
- He opposes a creamy layer provision and says reservation addresses social discrimination, exclusion and untouchability.
- Manjhi-Suman position
- They support sub-categorisation and a quota within a quota because benefits have not reached all communities equally.
- Stated objective of proposed changes
- Santosh Suman says the changes would ensure deprived groups receive their share rather than end reservations.
- Proposed process
- Chirag called for a broader constitutional and parliamentary debate before changes are made.
- Congress criticism
- Chirag questioned Rahul Gandhi and Congress’s responsibility for persistent social discrimination after their long tenure in power.
- Political significance
- The dispute could affect Bihar’s Dalit politics and the NDA’s ability to maintain a common position.