Quota war rocks NDA: BJP steps in as Chirag, Manjhi demand each other's resignation

The war of words between Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, leaders of two important NDA constituents from Bihar, over sub-categorisation of SC/ST reservations and the creamy layer has made the BJP uneasy.

According to sources, the BJP has appealed to both leaders to stop making statements against each other and work in the interest of the alliance.

The BJP has conveyed to both leaders that working together is essential to strengthen the NDA.

LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan and HAM-S founder Jitan Ram Manjhi have demanded each other's resignation over sub-categorisation within reservation and the creamy layer.

Chirag Paswan had demanded the resignation of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his son Santosh Kumar Suman, a minister in the Bihar government.

Chirag said that if Manjhi and his son support the implementation of a creamy layer within Scheduled Caste reservations and sub-categorisation, then, having already benefited from reservation, they should, on moral grounds, be the first to resign from their posts as Union minister and state minister, respectively. In India, the creamy layer principle currently applies to OBCs, not to SCs or STs.

Following Chirag Paswan's statement, Jitan Ram Manjhi hit back and also demanded Chirag's resignation. Manjhi alleged that Chirag Paswan does not care about the interests of extremely backward and poor Mahadalit communities and said that if he does not care about the poor, he should resign.

Manjhi's son Santosh Suman also said that Chirag Paswan is the leader of a larger party. If he wants resignations, he should resign first, after which they too would be ready to step down.

According to sources, the BJP has taken the confrontation between the two prominent Dalit leaders in the NDA seriously.

As the largest party in the alliance, the BJP has appealed to both leaders to resolve their differences.

Calling for sub-categorisation within SC/ST reservations, Manjhi argues that the benefits of Scheduled Caste reservations are reaching only some relatively empowered Dalit communities, while extremely marginalised groups such as Musahar and Musahar-Bhuiyan, which fall under the Mahadalit category, remain deprived of these benefits.

He argues that reservations should be reviewed in the interest of social justice and that sub-categorisation within the quota should be implemented.

Chirag strongly opposes Manjhi's proposed move. He believes that reservation is based not on economic status but on historical "social discrimination and untouchability".

According to him, dividing the SC community would weaken Dalit unity. He went so far as to say that those demanding a creamy layer should first resign from their posts.

In Bihar, where Dalits account for around 20 per cent of the population, the contradiction between the Pasi or Paswan community and Mahadalits is not new.

The Nitish Kumar government had placed 18-22 Dalit communities, excluding the Paswan caste, in the 'Mahadalit' category.

The Paswan community has been more socially and economically empowered than other Dalit communities such as Musahar and Dom, and has been ahead in terms of representation in government jobs.

Jitan Ram Manjhi portrays himself as the representative of the "most deprived sections" among Mahadalits, while Chirag Paswan is seeking to establish himself as the widely accepted leader of the entire Dalit community.

Both leaders are part of the NDA alliance at the Centre.

However, the tug-of-war continues as both seek to establish their dominance over Bihar's politics and the Dalit vote bank.

When the Modi government was formed in 2024, Jitan Ram Manjhi, being a former chief minister, was made a Cabinet minister despite his party having only one Lok Sabha seat.

He was given a seat in the first row of the Lok Sabha.

Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy was also given a seat in the first row on account of being a former chief minister, despite his party not having greater numerical strength.

Chirag Paswan objected to this and said he too should be given a seat in the first row.

Following this, he too was given a seat in the first row, just like Manjhi.

The BJP now wants the dispute to be resolved quickly.