New Delhi,  August 30, 2026

The debate over a separate sub-category within the Scheduled Caste reservation system has triggered a political face-off between Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi. At the centre of the dispute is the demand for targeted benefits for Dalit communities considered among the most deprived. While Paswan believes such a move could create divisions within the community, Manjhi has argued that greater focus is needed on castes that remain more vulnerable even within the Scheduled Castes.

Responding to questions about Manjhi and his son Santosh Kumar Suman supporting a sub-quota, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan said it would "create a schism within the community". He also said, "Let them support the concept of creamy layer and give up their respective posts,". Paswan’s position is consistent with that of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, who had strongly opposed the separate “Mahadalit” category introduced in Bihar more than a decade ago under then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Manjhi, who comes from the Musahar community, rejected Chirag Paswan’s criticism and defended the demand for a sub-category. He said, "It is not us, but Chirag Paswan who should resign as he is unable to understand the point Santosh and I have been making in the broader interests of Dalits." He further stated, "It is a fact that among the Dalits, there are castes which are relatively more vulnerable and these deserve targeted welfare which can happen after introducing a sub-category. I wonder where the question of creamy layer arises,". Santosh Kumar Suman also joined the dispute, saying, "My younger brother has a bigger party, with more numbers (in the Parliament and the state legislature). Let him take the lead, and I shall resign alongside. But he must understand I am speaking neither against quotas nor in favour of introducing the creamy layer,". He added, "A quota within quota is poles apart from creamy layer. Musahar, Bhuia, Nat, Dom... these end up facing discrimination even among the Scheduled Castes... within SC/ST community, no one should engage in a conversation with a feudal mindset."

The JD(U), the second-largest NDA constituent in Bihar after the BJP, attempted to bring the controversy to an end. JD(U) legislature party leader and state minister Shrawon Kumar said, "Reservations were introduced through the Constitution by Ambedkar. Now, there must not be any dispute over quotas,". Meanwhile, both Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism over the alleged “purification” of a temple following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s visit. Paswan said Congress had governed the country for a long period and therefore could not escape responsibility for continuing social inequality, while also stressing the need for Dalit unity. Manjhi referred to the late Jagjivan Ram and recalled an alleged 1978 incident in which the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi was washed with Gangajal after Ram’s visit. The competing views have once again brought the question of unequal access to benefits within the Dalit community and the broader challenge of social discrimination into political focus.