Jitan Ram Majhi calls Chirag Paswan's SC/ST quota stand 'unconstitutional'
Synopsis
Two sitting NDA Union Ministers are publicly calling each other out over SC/ST sub-categorisation — with Majhi invoking a Supreme Court majority verdict to brand Paswan's position 'unconstitutional'. The rift reveals how the apex court's ruling has fractured the ruling alliance along community lines, with real electoral stakes ahead.
Key Takeaways
Jitan Ram Majhi accused Chirag Paswan of 'unconstitutional' conduct over his opposition to SC/ST sub-categorisation on 30 August .
Majhi cited the Supreme Court of India 's majority verdict directing states to implement a 'quota within a quota' within SC/ST reservations.
Roughly half a dozen states have already implemented SC/ST sub-categorisation, according to Majhi.
Chirag Paswan had demanded that Majhi and Bihar Minister Santosh Suman resign if they supported a 'creamy layer' provision in SC/ST quotas.
Paswan argued reservation was designed to address social discrimination, not economic status, and called for a parliamentary debate before any changes.
Paswan also questioned Congress and Rahul Gandhi 's accountability for persisting social discrimination during the party's long tenures in power.
Union Minister Jitan Ram Majhi on Sunday, 30 August directly accused Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan of engaging in 'unconstitutional' conduct, escalating a public rift within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the contentious issue of sub-categorisation within Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations.
What Majhi Said
Majhi was unambiguous in his charge. 'Whatever Chirag Paswan is doing is unconstitutional,' he said. He grounded his position in the Supreme Court of India's majority verdict directing states to implement a 'quota within a quota' for SC/ST communities, noting that roughly half a dozen states have already done so. 'So what is there to resign for demanding what has already been implemented? One who is speaking against the Constitution should resign,' Majhi added.
The Trigger: Paswan's Resignation Demand
The confrontation was sparked a day earlier when Chirag Paswan objected to calls for introducing a 'creamy layer' provision in SC/ST reservations. Referring directly to Majhi and his son, Bihar Minister Santosh Suman, Paswan told reporters: 'Let them support the concept of creamy layer and give up their respective posts.' Paswan argued that reservation policy was not designed around economic status but to redress centuries of social discrimination, exclusion, and untouchability — and that any change warranted a broader constitutional and parliamentary debate.
The Sub-Categorisation Demand
Majhi and Santosh Suman have been pressing for sub-categorisation within SC/ST reservations, contending that reservation benefits have not reached all communities within these groups equally. Suman clarified that the demand was not aimed at dismantling reservations but at ensuring that the most deprived sub-groups received their rightful share. This position aligns with the Supreme Court ruling that cleared the path for states to create internal hierarchies within SC/ST quotas.
Paswan Turns Fire on Congress
Chirag Paswan, the Hajipur MP, also directed criticism at the opposition, questioning Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and his party's record. Paswan argued that if social discrimination had persisted over decades, Congress — which governed for long stretches — bore its share of accountability for the failure to address it.
What This Signals for NDA Unity
The open exchange of accusations between two sitting Union Ministers from NDA constituent parties underscores the pressure that the Supreme Court's sub-categorisation ruling has placed on the alliance's internal consensus. With multiple states already implementing 'quota within a quota' frameworks, the political cost of inaction — or of opposing the move — is rising on both sides of the debate. How the ruling coalition manages this fault line will be closely watched ahead of upcoming state elections.
Point of View
While Majhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha represents Musahar and other extremely marginalised sub-groups who argue they have been crowded out of SC benefits. The ruling coalition has so far avoided a formal position, but with states already acting on the court's direction, silence is becoming untenable. The real accountability question mainstream coverage is missing: why has the Centre not issued implementation guidelines even months after the Supreme Court verdict, leaving states — and coalition partners — to freelance?
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'quota within a quota' demand at the centre of this row?
It refers to sub-categorisation within SC/ST reservations — creating internal tiers so that the most marginalised sub-groups receive a defined share of the quota, rather than benefits flowing disproportionately to relatively better-off communities within the SC/ST category. The Supreme Court of India issued a majority verdict directing states to implement this.
Why did Jitan Ram Majhi call Chirag Paswan's position unconstitutional?
Majhi argued that demanding sub-categorisation is constitutionally backed by the Supreme Court's majority ruling and has already been implemented by roughly half a dozen states. He contended that opposing a court-sanctioned measure — not supporting it — is the unconstitutional stance.
What did Chirag Paswan say about the creamy layer and resignations?
Paswan objected to introducing a 'creamy layer' concept in SC/ST reservations, arguing it would distort a policy designed to address social discrimination rather than economic inequality. He challenged Majhi and Bihar Minister Santosh Suman to resign from their posts if they backed the creamy layer provision.
Who are the key figures in this dispute?
The main figures are Union Minister Jitan Ram Majhi (Hindustani Awam Morcha), his son Bihar Minister Santosh Suman, and Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan — all NDA allies. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also drawn into the debate by Paswan's remarks on Congress's historical accountability.
What happens next in the SC/ST sub-categorisation debate?
With the Supreme Court verdict already in place and several states having acted on it, pressure is mounting on the Centre to issue formal implementation guidelines. The political fault line within NDA over this issue is likely to intensify as state elections approach.
