MLAs from the Left and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) protested outside the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday, calling for the adoption of a 65% quota based on the results of a caste-based census carried out by the previous Grand Alliance administration.

In order to protect the additional quota from court scrutiny, RJD MLAs urged that it be included to the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and donned green T-shirts with slogans supporting the idea.

Before the House session started, RJD and Left lawmakers chanted “Arakshan Chor NDA government” and pressed their demands throughout the protest.

A caste-based poll conducted under the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) administration suggested raising the percentage of reservations in employment and education from 49% to 65%, with an extra 10% going to the economically disadvantaged groups among the higher castes. The Ninth Schedule does not yet include the upgraded reservation, nevertheless.

Leaders of the opposition contend that the reserve strategy is still open to legal challenges in the absence of this protection. Despite having the authority to move the process forward, they have said that the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government is blocking it.

The NDA administration was criticized by Mahua constituency RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan for using the court as a pretext to avoid enforcing the higher reservation.

“The NDA administration is now sheltering behind court rulings, despite the Grand Alliance government conducting the caste-based census and increasing the quota to 65%. The government is capable of both implementing the reservation and shielding it from court scrutiny by placing it under the Ninth Schedule, according to Roshan.

Another RJD MLA, Fateh Bahadur, emphasized that reservations have to take into account the demographic realities of Bihar.

Ninety percent of Bihar’s population is classified as Dalit, Mahadalit, backward caste, minority, or very backward caste, according to the caste-based study. This makeup must be reflected in reservation policy,” Singh told IANS.

The NDA administration has responded by defending its stance and asserting that it would discuss the issue in the Assembly and is working on reservation reforms.

Caste-based reservations are becoming a key political hot spot as the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections get near. The issue is being used by the RJD to undermine Nitish Kumar’s support base and garner support among the underclass.