Union Ministers Paswan and Manjhi Trade Barbs Over Caste Quota
Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Manjhi clashed publicly over caste quota policy, with Paswan opposing the separate Mahadalit category his father had also fought against.
A sharp public disagreement has emerged between two Union ministers from Bihar over the structure of caste-based reservations, exposing a deep fault line within the ruling coalition's social-engineering framework.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan has voiced opposition to the separate "Mahadalit" category, a position that mirrors the stance of his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan. The senior Paswan had fiercely opposed the creation of this sub-category when it was introduced in Bihar more than a decade ago by then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
His remarks have drawn a sharp response from Union Minister Jitan Manjhi, who has demanded resignations over the issue. The exchange underscores the sensitivity of caste arithmetic in Bihar, where such classifications carry significant political weight.
The Mahadalit category was designed to identify and target welfare schemes at the most disadvantaged Dalit communities. However, critics have long argued that it fragments the Dalit vote bank and dilutes the political unity of the community.
Paswan's reiteration of his father's position suggests a continuity of family ideology, even as he operates within a national political framework. Manjhi's counter-offensive indicates that the issue remains a live political battleground, capable of triggering friction even among ministers sharing the same government.
The clash highlights the ongoing tension between those who view the Mahadalit classification as a necessary affirmative-action tool and those who see it as a divisive political manoeuvre.