A war of words continues between leaders of two key NDA constituents in Bihar over reservation within reservation and the creamy layer. A war of words has erupted between LJP chief Chirag Paswan and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi on the issue of reservation. This has unnerved the BJP. According to sources, the BJP has appealed to both leaders to cease their rhetoric and work in the interests of the alliance. The BJP has conveyed to both leaders that working together is essential for the strengthening of the NDA.
It is noteworthy that Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi have demanded each other’s resignation on the issue of reservation in reservation and ‘creamy layer’. Actually Chirag Paswan had demanded the resignation of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his son Santosh Kumar Suman, a minister in the Bihar government. He says that if Manjhi and his son are in favour of implementing ‘creamy layer’ within Scheduled Caste reservation or sub-classification of reservation, then having already taken the benefit of reservation, they should first resign from the post of Union Minister and Minister on moral grounds. Following Chirag Paswan’s statement, Jitan Ram Manjhi retaliated and demanded Chirag’s resignation. Manjhi alleged that Chirag Paswan does not care about the interests of the extremely backward and Mahadalit poor, and therefore, if he is not concerned about the poor, he should resign. Manjhi’s son, Santosh Suman, also said that Chirag Paswan is the leader of a major party. If he wants to resign, he should start by resigning himself, and they are ready to resign after him.
According to sources, the BJP has taken this conflict between these two prominent Dalit leaders of the NDA seriously. As the largest party in the alliance, the BJP has appealed to them to resolve their differences.
Manjhi argues that only a few capable Dalit castes are benefiting from Scheduled Caste reservation. Whereas, extremely backward castes like the Musahar-Bhuiyan, which fall under the Mahadalit category, are deprived of this. They say that for social justice, reservation should be reviewed and a quota within quota should be implemented.
They believe that the basis of reservation is not economic, but historical social discrimination and untouchability. According to them, dividing the SC community will weaken Dalit unity. They have even said that those demanding a creamy layer should first resign from their posts.
The Dusadh versus Mahadalit conflict is not new in Bihar, which has a Dalit population of about 20 percent. The Nitish government had excluded the Dusadh caste and included Scheduled Castes in the Mahadalit category.
Jitan Ram Manjhi calls himself the representative of the Mahadalits, while Chirag Paswan is striving to become the universally accepted leader of the Dalit community. Both leaders are part of the NDA alliance at the center, but this tussle continues to establish their sole dominance over Bihar’s future politics and the Dalit vote bank.
When the Modi government was formed in 2024, Jitan Ram Manjhi, as a former Chief Minister, was made a Cabinet Minister despite holding only one seat. He was given a seat in the front row in the Lok Sabha. HD Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) also received a seat in the front row due to his status as a former Chief Minister. Chirag Paswan objected to this, saying he should also be given a seat in the front row. Following this, he too was given a seat in the front row. The BJP now wants to put an end to the ongoing war of words between Manjhi and Paswan.