If betrayed, Marathas will ensure Mahayuti bites the dust in polls, says Jarange-Patil

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Thursday warned the constituents of the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra that the community would “make them bite the dust” in the coming elections if its demand for reservation is not fulfilled.

Speaking from a hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where he is recovering after ending his five-day hunger strike in Mumbai, the activist said his movement would continue until every Maratha eligible for benefits is included under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. “Implement the Hyderabad and Satara gazettes within a month or face consequences. Step by step, we will ensure that the Maratha community gets its rightful place in the OBC category,” he said.

Mr. Jarange-Patil ended his protest on Tuesday after the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department issued a government resolution (GR) enabling Marathas with documentary proof of Kunbi lineage to claim benefits under the OBC category.

Despite pausing his agitation, the quota activist urged Marathas from all regions, especially the Konkan, to claim their rights or risk losing opportunities for future generations.

Growing unrest

However, the State government’s decision has stirred unrest among OBC groups and triggered fissures within the ruling alliance, comprising the BJP, the Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Senior NCP leader and Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader, had boycotted Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting in protest and hinted at challenging the GR in court, arguing that OBC interests were being compromised to accommodate Marathas.

Dissent has also surfaced within Mr. Jarange-Patil’s own camp. Advocate Yogesh Kedar, one of his close aides, accused the government of “misleading the community” and dismissed the GR as “a complete sham”. “Every time we win on the streets, we lose at the negotiating table. The GR simply repackages existing procedures,” Mr. Kedar said, warning that the government’s offer could derail the movement’s long-term goals.

OBC protest ends

In Nagpur, the Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh ended its six-day hunger strike after OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save, who visited the protest site at Samvidhan Chowk on behalf of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, told agitators that the their quota “will remain untouched”. The Mahasangh, which launched its protest on August 30, had put forth 14 demands, including a guarantee that all Marathas would not be included in the OBC category and that Kunbi certificates would be issued only after verifying historical records. Mr. Save said 12 demands were accepted immediately, while the remaining two would be addressed during a meeting in Mumbai next week.

“Only Marathas with valid proof of Kunbi ancestry will be eligible [for benefits]. There will be no injustice to OBCs,” Mr. Fadnavis told reporters, attempting to defuse tensions.

Opposition sceptical

The Opposition, however, remains sceptical. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal accused the government of “pitting Marathas and OBCs against each other” and demanded a caste-based census, calling it the “only permanent solution”. “The government claims Marathas will get quota without affecting OBC reservation. Both cannot be true,” he said, asking if the State will emulate Telangana, where OBCs have 42% quota.

Amid growing tensions, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the State government has formed two committees to examine OBC concerns over quota for Marathas and ensure “justice for both communities”.