BJP Targets MVA Over Maratha Quota Inaction

As Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange launched a hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Friday, the Maharashtra BJP unleashed a sharp critique of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), accusing its leaders—Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and Congress—of neglecting the Maratha community’s reservation demands. BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye claimed the MVA’s inaction during its 2019–2022 rule and its current ambiguity betray the community, contrasting this with the BJP-led government’s proactive measures.

Upadhye, addressing the media and posting on X, accused the MVA of deliberate indifference when in power. “Sharad Pawar once dismissed the Maratha quota as unnecessary, yet now adopts a vague stance. Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena mocked the community’s silent marches as ‘muka morcha’ in Saamana, and Congress has long treated Marathas as a mere vote bank,” he said. He emphasized that Jarange’s demand for a 10% OBC quota for Marathas, through recognition as Kunbis, has met with MVA’s silence, despite the BJP’s clear support for a legally sound reservation without affecting existing OBC quotas.

The BJP highlighted its efforts under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who in 2018 secured a 16% Maratha quota under the SEBC Act, later struck down by the Supreme Court in 2021 during the MVA’s tenure. Upadhye blamed the MVA’s failure to defend the quota in court, citing poor coordination and delays in filing a review petition. The current Mahayuti government, led by Eknath Shinde, passed a 10% Maratha quota bill in February 2024, extended the Shinde committee’s term for Kunbi certificate verification, and disbursed Rs 8,320 crore to nearly one lakh Maratha entrepreneurs via the Annasaheb Patil Finance Corporation. Additionally, Rs 9,262 crore has supported 17.54 lakh students under the Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj fee reimbursement scheme.

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The Maratha quota issue, a political flashpoint ahead of Maharashtra’s assembly elections, has polarized the state. Jarange, demanding OBC inclusion for all Marathas, accused both the BJP-led Mahayuti and MVA of exploiting the issue. OBC leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal oppose diluting their quota, creating tensions. MVA leaders skipped a July 2024 all-party meeting, claiming lack of consultation, prompting criticism from Mahayuti. Sharad Pawar recently called for a central government role, warning of Manipur-like unrest, while Raj Thackeray accused him and Thackeray of stoking caste tensions.

Upadhye urged the Maratha community to demand clarity from Pawar, Thackeray, and Congress. “The BJP has acted decisively, while the MVA offers only doublespeak. Their betrayal of social justice must be rejected,” he said. As Jarange’s protest intensifies, the issue remains a legal and political challenge, with the Supreme Court’s 50% quota cap looming large.

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