The Maratha reservation movement in Maharashtra has now taken an aggressive stance. The protesters set fire to the houses of two NCP MLAs and a former minister. Curfew has been imposed in Beed, Maharashtra and gathering of people has been banned under Section 144, but the situation is not under control. Just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-Shinde government is stuck in a political dilemma due to the Maratha reservation movement.
Shiv Sena Shinde faction MPs Hemant Patil and Hemant Godse have put pressure on the government by resigning in support of Maratha reservation. In such a situation, Chief Minister Shinde said that the Maratha community should be patient. They will get reservation within the ambit of law. Meanwhile, the Shinde Committee report has been accepted, which will be placed in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. In such a situation, it is believed that reservation can be given to the Maratha community by issuing Kunbi caste certificate. CM Shinde has also given similar indications, but if certificate is given to Kunbi caste then OBC community may get angry.
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Maratha reservation demand becomes a challenge for BJP
Political heat has heated up regarding the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Only 6 months are left for the 2024 elections. In such a situation, the demand for Maratha reservation raised in Maharashtra has become a challenge for BJP. However, Maharashtra CM Shinde has made a strategy to give Kunbi caste certificate to help the Maratha community. Shinde said that 11530 old documents have been found, in which Kunbi caste is mentioned. New certificates in this regard will be issued on Tuesday. He said that OBC certificates can be immediately issued to those who have proof of Kunbi caste.
Chief Minister Shinde has given two formulas to solve Maratha reservation. First through Kunbi certificate letter and second through curative petition in the Supreme Court. Due to giving Maratha certificate to Kunbi caste, there is a danger of angering BJP’s strong OBC base. In the month of September, Shinde government had tried to provide OBC reservation benefits to Marathas by giving them Kunbi caste certificate, but this did not cool down the demand for Maratha reservation. On the contrary, the OBC community in Vidarbha area was enraged. OBC leaders of BJP and Congress were involved in this demonstration.
Bet to give reservation to Marathas under Kunbi caste
BJP’s OBC Morcha leader Ashish Deshmukh, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar were also seen standing in protest. Deshmukh had said that Marathas are not economically backward and they should not get even half percent reservation from the OBC quota, otherwise the path of agitation is open for us. In such a situation, Shinde government once again tries to give reservation under Kunbi caste, as per its preparation.
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Maratha reservation movement leader Manoj Jarange is on hunger strike for the last 6 days in Antrauli, Jalna, while on the other hand, Maratha community has taken to the streets. This is the reason why the state government is in a mood to control the damage by giving Kunbi caste certificate, but due to this, there is a danger of BJP’s core vote bank getting dispersed. Like in September, this time also if the OBC community opposes giving Kunbi caste certificate to Marathas, then the concern for BJP may increase.
There has been a demand for reservation of Maratha community in Maharashtra for a long time. In the year 2018, the Fadnavis government had enacted a law to provide 16 percent reservation to the Maratha community in jobs and education, but after the matter went to the Bombay High Court, the reservation was reduced to 12 percent in education and 13 percent in jobs. In such a situation, when Maratha reservation was challenged in the Supreme Court, the court had banned it citing Indira Sawhney case. In the year 2021, the Supreme Court had completely canceled this decision of the government.
Demand to give OBC status to Marathas
The political heat of elections is hot in Maharashtra. First there are Lok Sabha elections and then assembly elections. In such a situation, the demand for Maratha reservation has become a cause of great concern for the state government. Marathas have taken a violent form in their agitation for reservation. There is also a demand for giving OBC status to Marathas. On the other hand, the OBC community is not in favor of giving reservation to Marathas under any circumstances.
Let us tell you that the population of Marathas in Maharashtra is 30 to 33 percent. Maratha vote is considered decisive in 20 to 22 seats out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and 80 to 85 seats out of 288 assembly seats. Since the formation of Maharashtra in 1960 till now i.e. till the year 2023, 12 out of 20 Chief Ministers have been from the Maratha community. Current CM Eknath Shinde also belongs to the Maratha community. On the other hand, OBC community in the state is also 40 percent.
Political base of Shiv Sena and NCP among Maratha community
While Marathwada is considered the stronghold of Marathas, OBCs dominate in Vidarbha. Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state, 11 are in this area and BJP is in control of 10 seats. Of the 288 Maratha assembly seats, 62 are from this region. In Maharashtra, OBC is considered a strong vote bank of BJP, while Shiv Sena and NCP have a political base among the Maratha community. In such a situation, if BJP takes steps for the Maratha community, then the OBCs are afraid of being scattered, while on the other hand, if Marathas are not given reservation, then they are in a tough mood.
Due to the way Maratha reservation movement is gaining momentum, BJP is worried about its vote bank while NCP leader and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is worried about its vote bank. If Ajit Pawar goes along with the stand of the state government, then he is facing the danger of angering the Maratha community. Apart from this, if Maratha votes are seen standing with Shinde, there is a possibility of division. Similarly, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is facing tension regarding his Maratha vote bank.
Shinde government is not able to support Maratha community
CM Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis are not able to woo the Maratha community, due to which two MPs of Shiv Sena Shinde faction have resigned. The BJP leadership is keeping its eyes on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In such a situation, the Maratha reservation movement has brought him into the political middle. If this issue is not resolved, BJP may suffer political loss. In such a situation, it remains to be seen how BJP overcomes this.