NEW DELHI : Union Minister and NDA ally Jitan Ram Manjhi has formally petitioned Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, advocating for increased speaking time for Members of Parliament from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The request follows concerns raised by BJP MP Gajendra Singh Patel regarding the current allocation of time during parliamentary debates on significant legislation.
The proposal was initially brought forward by Patel, who represents the Khargone constituency in Madhya Pradesh, during an NDA MPs Group Dialogue Meeting hosted at Manjhi’s residence in New Delhi on August 5. Manjhi has now urged the Speaker to review the matter and issue appropriate directives to ensure that lawmakers representing these communities have sufficient opportunity to address issues pertinent to their constituents on the floor of the House.
Addressing Representation in Parliament
In his communication to the Speaker, Manjhi highlighted the need for a more robust platform for SC/ST representatives. While acknowledging that these MPs are currently granted opportunities to participate in discussions, Patel noted that the existing system—where speaking time is divided among political parties—often limits the depth of coverage for specific community concerns. Patel clarified that the objective is not to suggest that SC/ST MPs are currently excluded, but rather to ensure that their voices are amplified to better reflect the needs of the communities they represent.
The move comes amid a broader, ongoing discourse within the NDA regarding the structure of reservation policies. The alliance has recently navigated internal friction concerning the sub-categorisation of SC/ST reservations, a topic that gained significant momentum following a Supreme Court Constitution Bench judgment on August 1, 2024. This ruling granted states the authority to establish sub-categories within SC and ST groups.
Internal NDA Tensions Over Reservation
The debate over sub-categorisation has created a divide among key NDA figures. While HAM(S) president and Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman has advocated for a “quota within a quota” to ensure that the most marginalized groups—such as the Musahar, Bhuiyan, Dom, Halkhor, and Nat communities—receive equitable benefits, other leaders have expressed strong opposition. Chirag Paswan, a fellow Union minister, has publicly challenged the push for any review of the reservation system, suggesting that such discussions could undermine the constitutional protections currently in place.
The disagreement escalated when Paswan suggested that those supporting a review of the reservation system should consider resigning. In response, Suman expressed his willingness to step down, provided that others in the alliance followed suit. Meanwhile, other political voices, including JD(U) national general secretary Shyam Rajak, have cautioned against any changes to the existing framework, warning that tampering with the system could lead to social instability. As the debate continues, the focus remains on how these diverse perspectives will be managed within the coalition and reflected in future parliamentary proceedings.
