Jarange-Patil’s cry in support of the Marathas did not prevent MahaYuti’s speech

Mumbai, November 23 (IANS): Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, despite his repeated appeals to his supporters to vote against the BJP, has failed to work his magic, especially in the 46 Marathwada Assembly seats.

The MahaYuti Party, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, which suffered a major defeat due to anti-Maratha protests and OBC reservations during the Lok Sabha elections, has received a major boost in Marathwada as it is leading with a record 36 of the 46 seats. . The Jarange-Patil factor has failed miserably in persuading pro-Maratha quota voters to mobilize against the BJP and MahaYuti in particular.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi was hoping to cash in on the MDM (Muslim Maratha Dalit) factor to outsmart the MahaYuti and the BJP, particularly in Marathwada. However, no positive results were achieved.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confirmed at poll rallies that the MahaYuti government has already given 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community and will give a quota from OBC reservation after being voted to power. The Maratha community seems to have rallied behind the MahaYuthi rather than the Maha Vikas Aghadi, who then made a strong case for increasing the current 50 per cent quota to give reservations to the Marathas, Dhangars and other communities that pass the test of the law.

On the other hand, the BJP played its card carefully. In a serious attempt to counter Jarange-Patil’s anti-BJP and anti-Fadnavis stance, the party has made several efforts to consolidate its position in the OBC and its various sub-castes. This was also to compensate for the loss of votes among the Maratha community.

The state BJP, which is in charge of the Assembly elections, and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav have made personal efforts to organize meetings with members belonging to OBC sub-castes on the lines of the Haryana experiment. The BJP has executed its Mali, Dhangar and Vanjari formula with distinction to checkmate the pro-Maratha rhetoric of Jaranga-Patil.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah held several meetings in Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra against the Congress party’s anti-SC, ST, OBC and tribal agenda. They alleged that the BJP-led government at the Center and the MahaYuti government in the state have taken various initiatives for the empowerment of the oppressed and their progress. The Prime Minister and Home Minister also accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of pursuing divisive policies, urging voters not to fall for their agenda.

As for Jarange-Patil, his on and off actions did not sit well with his supporters, especially the Maratha community. He announced that he would field several Maratha quota supporters in the elections, but later retracted his decision. His turnaround has further confused his supporters. After this, his call to support Muslim, Dalit and Maratha candidates in several seats did not work, which ultimately benefited MahaYuti.

Although MahaYuti has improved its performance after a dismal showing in the Lok Sabha elections in Marathwada, it will have to struggle to ensure the Maratha quota stands up to legal scrutiny. Moreover, the government, by giving reservations to the Maratha community from the OBC quota, will have to pacify OBC leaders and NCP veteran Chhagan Bhujbal, who is opposed to such a move. He will have to find a delicate balance on this issue as he charts his path in the future.