Manjhi’s Relapse Triggers Delhi Trip Amid Reservation Debate
Patna (September 3) – Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who also heads the Hindustani Awam Morcha, was rushed to Delhi on Thursday after suffering a relapse of fever that followed a brief discharge from Patna’s Medanta Hospital. The former Bihar chief minister’s health had initially seemed to improve, leading to his release on Wednesday. However, a sudden rise in temperature later that night forced his entourage to consider a higher level of care.
Following medical counsel, Manjhi was air‑lifted to a Delhi facility equipped for comprehensive investigations. He travelled under the supervision of family members and senior party officials. Doctors in Delhi are slated to run extensive blood work, imaging, and other diagnostics to uncover the underlying cause of the repeated fever. No conclusive explanation has emerged, and party representatives are awaiting clarification from the medical team.
The minister’s health episode has sparked concern among Bihar’s political leaders, especially as Manjhi remains active in the ongoing reservation policy discourse. He has been a vocal proponent of sub‑categorisation within the Scheduled Caste quota, a stance that has led to public disagreements with Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who opposes any changes to the present reservation framework. Manjhi frequently cites a 2024 Supreme Court judgment that permits states, subject to constitutional guidelines, to subdivide SC quotas to ensure that the most deprived sections receive adequate benefits.
Illustrating his point, Manjhi referenced Punjab’s implementation of sub‑categorisation, claiming it resulted in a more equitable distribution of reserved seats among various SC communities. He argues that the Supreme Court decision provides a legal foundation for states to evaluate and adjust reservation allocation based on socioeconomic indicators.
As the Delhi medical team conducts its assessment, political observers are closely watching both the health developments and the parallel reservation debate, which continues to shape the narrative ahead of upcoming elections.