Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad has demanded that Maharashtra’s Banjara community be granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and reservation benefits under the Hyderabad Gazette, if it is being implemented in the state. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on September 10, 2025, Awhad argued that the Banjaras, recognized as STs in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, deserve similar recognition in Maharashtra to ensure equitable access to opportunities.

Awhad’s demand comes in the wake of the Maharashtra government’s recent decision to implement the Hyderabad Gazette, a move aimed at facilitating Kunbi caste certificates for Marathas to access Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota benefits. On September 2, 2025, the state issued a Government Resolution (GR) following a hunger strike by quota activist Manoj Jarange, forming a committee to verify documentary evidence for Marathas claiming Kunbi status. Awhad seized on this development, asserting that the same framework should extend ST status to the Banjara community, which he claims has long been marginalized despite clear evidence supporting their eligibility.

“I have been raising this issue for years, and all necessary evidence has been presented,” Awhad told reporters. “If the Hyderabad Gazette is being applied in Maharashtra, the Banjara community must be granted reservation as a Scheduled Tribe.” His call has sparked renewed debate over caste-based reservations, a contentious issue in the state, especially as it fuels tensions among communities vying for limited quota benefits.

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The government’s decision to implement the Hyderabad Gazette has already stirred unrest, particularly among OBC leaders like Maharashtra NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who warned that it has “opened a Pandora’s box” by potentially diluting existing OBC quotas. The GR, issued after Jarange’s five-day hunger strike in Mumbai from August 29, allows eligible Marathas to apply for Kunbi certificates, enabling access to OBC reservations. This move has heightened anxieties among OBC communities, who fear their share of benefits may shrink.

Awhad’s advocacy for the Banjaras underscores the broader complexities of Maharashtra’s reservation politics, where demands for inclusion often clash with existing frameworks. The Banjara community, historically nomadic and spread across several states, has long sought ST status in Maharashtra to access educational, employment, and welfare benefits reserved for marginalized groups. Awhad’s push aligns with his party’s broader agenda of championing social equity, but it risks further polarizing the state’s caste dynamics.

As Maharashtra navigates this sensitive issue, Awhad’s demand places additional pressure on the state government to balance competing claims while addressing longstanding grievances of communities like the Banjaras. The formation of the committee to oversee Kunbi certificate issuance signals the government’s intent to move forward with the Hyderabad Gazette’s implementation, but whether it will extend to the Banjaras remains uncertain. For now, Awhad’s vocal stance has amplified the call for justice for one of Maharashtra’s underserved communities, setting the stage for a heated debate in the state’s political and social arenas.

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