PATNA: It seems there is no unanimity in Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the main opposition party in Bihar , as far as 10% reservation in central jobs and all educational institutions for economically weaker sections from among the upper castes is concerned.Party insiders said though forward castes have not been the RJD’s traditional vote bank, its leaders from the upper castes may end up losing even the meagre vote share from their own communities if the party continues opposing the 10% quota introduced by the Centre. Three RJD members in Lok Sabha and four in Rajya Sabha had voted against the bill envisaging reservation for the economically poor in the upper castes.“Protest against quota for the upper castes has been a wrong decision of the party, especially when all other opposition parties have supported it. The party should have expressed its reservations against it, but speaking against quota being given to forward castes has not sent a good message among the people and party workers from those communities,” said a senior RJD functionary wishing anonymity.Former state minister Jagdanand Singh said the party is not against reservation for upper castes, but its “use as a political tool by the BJP” is objectionable.“The court has clearly stipulated that reservation cannot go beyond 50%. Still, when the governments of VP Singh and P V Narsimha Rao vouched for it, the BJP and other right wing parties always took the matter to court to obstruct its implementation. They came up with the same bill only to seek electoral gains ahead of the general election,” he said.Jagdanand added RJD president Lalu Prasad had included reservation for economically weaker sections in the general category in the party manifesto prior to 2014 general election.“RJD has never been against 10% reservation for economically weaker sections in the upper castes. However, who will get the remaining 40% jobs is still not clear. The BJP should explain it. We want the caste census to be made public and since BJP has gone beyond the limit of 50% reservation, there should be an arrangement for distribution of entire 100% reservation based on caste census,” Jagdanand said.Another senior leader from an upper caste Muslim community too said the RJD was never against reservation for the upper castes.“The government of Karpoori Thakur in 1977 came up with a reservation formula in Bihar, under which 12% quota was given to OBCs, 8% to EBCs, 3% to upper castes and 3% to women. However, he received much criticism for it. Later, the then CM Laluji also proposed inclusion of meritorious students from the backward castes in general category. However, it was also not followed. It’s the BJP and other like-minded parties which are always against reservation. RJD has opposed the new reservation system for the upper caste only to start a discussion, possibly on the grounds of making reservation on the basis of caste census,” the senior leader from the upper caste Muslim community said preferring anonymity.