Maratha quota row: ‘Who are you to give Kunbi certificates,’ Bhujbal questions his own government

Maharashtra Minister and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) questioned his own government over the issuance of the orders on the implementation of Hyderabad Gazette, facilitating Kunbi certificates to Marathas.

“Who are you to issue Kunbi certificates? You cannot give them. Earlier, the Shinde committee was appointed to find out the Maratha Kunbi names from the register (Hyderabad Gazette entries). So I did not say anything. But now, the fresh order says that the Marathas should be given Kunbi certificates. How can that be done? This order will definitely affect the OBCs. I am in the process of taking legal consultation,” Mr. Bhujbal told The Hindu on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) night, hours after skipping the Mahayuti dinner hosted by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

When asked why he had skipped the CM’s dinner as well the Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, he said he was busy taking legal opinion.

“I have been consulting the lawyers, going through legal documents. Now, the lawyers have time only in the evening. I need to keep myself free at that time. So I did not go for the dinner,” he told The Hindu.

Amid the Maharashtra government’s move to issue an order for Maratha reservation, Mr. Bhujbal has been mobilising the OBC community, holding at least four meeting with them in the last two days. He also said that he could not attend the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning as he had gone to meet the lawyers.

Mr. Bhujbal has also threatened of a mass protest by the OBCs against the government’s order for the implementation of the Hyderabad Gazettee for Maratha reservation.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil said on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) that the government order had certainly brought the Marathas in the ambit of the OBCs.

The OBCs are a traditional vote bank of the BJP and the government has already formed a sub-committee for the community. Interestingly, Mr. Bhujbal is also a part of the sub-committee.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Office said that while the invite for the Ganpati darshan was for all the Mahayuti MLAs, MPs and Ministers. Some leaders who had already visited the CM bungalow, skipped the event on Wednesday (September 3, 2025).

While deputy CM Eknath Shinde attended the dinner, deputy CM Ajit Pawar skipped it. Shiv Sena leader Bharat Gogavale also did not attend.