Patna: Amid rising political activity ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has intensified pressure on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling for an overhaul of the state’s reservation policy. In a strongly worded letter shared publicly, Tejashwi demanded a one-day special session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly to pass a new bill raising the total reservation cap to 85%, warning that failure to do so would lead to mass agitation.
Tejashwi criticised the chief minister for what he described as a failure to safeguard a previously passed law under the Mahagathbandhan government, which had proposed a 65% reservation based on caste census data. That law was struck down by the Patna High Court, which cited a lack of evidence regarding inadequate representation of marginalised communities in public employment and education.
“Despite being in power during the Mahagathbandhan era, Nitish Kumar could not ensure inclusion of the increased reservation in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution,” Tejashwi wrote. He added that the 2023 caste-based census had formed a legitimate basis for the reservation expansion, including 10% for economically weaker sections and 65% for backward, extremely backward, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He pointed out that similar frameworks have been upheld in Tamil Nadu.
In the letter, Tejashwi also called for the formation of an all-party committee to submit a detailed report within a week. He demanded that the reservation bill be passed and sent to the central government within three weeks for inclusion in the 9th Schedule.
“If this is not done, we will be forced to take to the streets with the justice-seeking people of Bihar,” he said, signalling a readiness to launch a large-scale movement on the issue. The timing of the move suggests that reservation could become a central issue in the run-up to the polls, especially as parties compete for support from marginalised communities.
