Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha has vowed to work towards reviving the Bihar government’s earlier decision to increase reservation for deprived sections to 65 per cent. His statement came shortly after he staked a claim to carrying forward the political legacy of Nitish Kumar.
Kushwaha said Nitish Kumar had taken the decision after considering the findings of Bihar’s caste survey. However, the policy could not take effect after the courts intervened. He said the RLM would now work to take the decision forward and push for its implementation.
The announcement came after a three-day party conclave in Rajgir, where the RLM adopted several resolutions. One of the key resolutions focused on reviving the 65 per cent reservation decision in Bihar.
Kushwaha Pledges to Take Forward 65% Reservation Decision
Upendra Kushwaha said the Nitish Kumar-led government had increased the reservation quota after examining the findings of the caste survey conducted in Bihar.
The state government had taken the decision to raise the reservation quota for backward and deprived sections to 65 per cent. However, the move faced a legal challenge and could not be implemented after the courts struck it down.
Kushwaha said Nitish Kumar’s effort remained incomplete. He added that his party now considered it its responsibility to take the issue forward.
The RLM chief said the party would work towards restoring the 65 per cent reservation policy. The decision emerged as one of the most important resolutions passed during the party’s Rajgir conclave.
What Was Bihar’s 65% Reservation Decision?
The Bihar government passed amendments to increase the reservation quota in the state in November 2023. The move raised the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes.
The new arrangement took the total state quota for these categories to 65 per cent. When combined with the existing 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections, the overall reservation level reached 75 per cent.
However, the Patna High Court struck down the amendments in June 2024. The Bihar government later approached the Supreme Court, but the court declined to put the High Court order on hold at that stage.
The issue has since remained politically significant in Bihar, particularly because the state government had linked the decision to findings from its caste survey.
RLM Adopts Resolution at Rajgir Conclave
The Rashtriya Lok Morcha held its three-day conclave in Rajgir from August 20 to August 22. Party leaders discussed the organisation’s political strategy and adopted three resolutions during the meeting.
The proposal to take forward the 65 per cent reservation decision emerged as the most significant resolution.
Kushwaha said the party wanted to continue the work initiated under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. He linked the reservation issue with his broader argument that the RLM should help carry forward Nitish Kumar’s political legacy.
The announcement has added a fresh political dimension to the debate over reservation in Bihar.
Kushwaha’s Claim Over Nitish Kumar’s Political Legacy
A few days before the Rajgir conclave, Kushwaha said the RLM was ready to take responsibility for carrying forward Nitish Kumar’s political legacy.
His remarks triggered political reactions in Bihar. Leaders from the JD(U), BJP and other parties responded to the debate over who could claim Nitish Kumar’s political legacy.
Kushwaha later clarified that his earlier statement had been presented out of context. However, he maintained that his party wanted to continue the political ideas and work associated with Nitish Kumar.
The RLM chief’s latest pledge on the 65 per cent reservation policy appears to strengthen this political positioning. By promising to revive a major decision of the Nitish Kumar government, Kushwaha has sought to connect his party with one of the former Bihar government’s key social justice policies.
Reservation Issue Returns to Bihar’s Political Centre Stage
The reservation issue has once again become a major subject of political discussion in Bihar.
Kushwaha has argued that the 65 per cent quota decision was based on the data collected through the caste survey. He said the government had taken the decision after carefully examining the findings.
His statement has come at a time when political parties and leaders continue to debate reservation policies and their future.
The issue also holds importance because reservation remains closely linked to Bihar’s social justice politics. Different political parties have often built their support among backward, extremely backward and other marginalised communities around questions of representation and welfare.
Kushwaha’s decision to make the 65 per cent quota a political priority could therefore help the RLM strengthen its position among these sections.
Political Legacy Debate Adds to the Significance
The latest development has connected two major political issues: Nitish Kumar’s legacy and Bihar’s reservation policy.
Kushwaha has presented the revival of the 65 per cent reservation decision as part of carrying forward Nitish Kumar’s unfinished work.
His claim has also sparked discussion within Bihar’s political landscape. The JD(U) has reacted to the succession debate, while the BJP has indicated that discussions about a successor remain premature.
The differing positions have added to political speculation about Nitish Kumar’s legacy and the future leadership of Bihar’s political space.
What Lies Ahead for the 65% Reservation Policy?
The RLM’s resolution does not immediately restore the 65 per cent reservation policy. Any attempt to bring back the decision will have to address the legal challenges that stopped its implementation earlier.
However, Kushwaha’s statement makes it clear that the party plans to keep the issue alive politically.
The 65 per cent reservation decision could become an important part of the RLM’s political agenda in the coming months. The party may use the issue to highlight its commitment to social justice and the representation of backward and deprived communities.
For Kushwaha, the issue also provides an opportunity to reinforce his claim of carrying forward Nitish Kumar’s political legacy.
As Bihar’s political parties continue to debate leadership, social justice and reservation, Kushwaha’s latest announcement has added another layer to the state’s evolving political landscape.
The RLM chief has made his position clear: he wants to take forward the Nitish Kumar government’s decision on 65 per cent reservation and make its revival part of his party’s political mission.