But that’s exactly what happened this week when Chirag Paswan (LJP) and Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-Secular) clashed over who really benefits from reservation. Paswan fired back after Manjhi’s son called for sub-categorisation of SC/ST quotas; arguing the system has only helped a few groups, like Paswans and Ravidas. Paswan shot back: ‘If you want a creamy layer, resign first; you’d fall under it.’ Manjhi didn’t blink: ‘You’re denying benefits to the truly poor. Resign.’ This isn’t just a political spat. It’s a raw, real-time debate on whether reservation is working as intended; and who controls the narrative. With anti-reservation protests brewing and a Supreme Court verdict already allowing states to sub-categorise, this feud could reshape how quotas are viewed; not just in Bihar or Delhi, but across India. The NDA’s unity is being tested; not by policy, but by pride, pain and power.