With Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil again kicking off his agitation to demand reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category and the status of Kunbi OBC for the community, the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra is looking to grapple with a fresh challenge over the row.
While the Fadnavis government has made it clear that it would not provide reservation to Marathas within the OBC quota, the cabinet sub-committee will have to explore other options to achieve a breakthrough.
Based on Vikhe-Patil panel’s talks with Jarange Patil, CM and senior BJP leader Fadnavis, Deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM and NCP president Ajit Pawar would take a final call to resolve the row, sources said.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP), has supported Jarange Patil’s agitation while attacking the Mahayuti government for its “failure” in addressing the demand for Maratha quota so far.
Highly-placed sources in the cabinet sub-committee said, “There would be no problem in accepting Jarange Patil’s demand for blanket issuance of Kunbi certificates to Marathas if it is based on proof to substantiate their claims. Secondly, his demand for expanding this reservation scope to accommodate ‘sage soyare’ of Marathas — which means extending Kunbi certificates to their relatives from their family tree — would be considered too.”
Sources said that the cabinet sub-committee may also look at the possibility to providing welfare schemes to Marathas in education and jobs which are being availed by the OBCs through reservation. “This means that though the government cannot accommodate the Maratha reservation within the OBC quota, related beneficiary schemes may be considered for Marathas too,” sources said.
A section of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM), an umbrella organisation of Maratha bodies, has suggested that the Fadnavis government should convene a special session of the state Legislature to discuss the entire issue threadbare and pass a legislation to implement the Maratha quota.
MKM leader Vinod Patil said, ” In January 2024, the Mahayuti government had issued a draft notification on Kunbi (OBC) caste certificate for Marathas and their sage soyare. It was not implemented.”
CM Fadnavis however said, “We have already given 10% reservation to Marathas under Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2024. The reservation has not been stayed (by a court).” He also said, “The demand for Maratha reservation under OBC quota is ruled out as it would invite backlash from OBCs which have 350 communities under quota.” The CM added that “We don’t want a situation where communities are pitted against each other. This would be detrimental for Maharashtra.”
“Sage soyare” is a Marathi term for ‘relatives from the family tree’. According to the government’s notification, the term includes “relatives of an applicant’s father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and in earlier generations forming out of marriages within the same caste.”
The January 2024 decision of then Shinde-led government was seen as a breakthrough, which had then led to Jarange Patil withdrawing his agitation in Navi Mumbai
while urging the government to implement it in letter and spirit.
On his part, then CM Shinde had also claimed, “I had taken a pledge in front of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue that I will implement Maratha reservation. I believe in making promises and fulfilling them.”
While the draft notification was not implemented, the Mahayuti government, in February 2024, passed the Maharashtra State Reservation for SEBC Bill 2024, in the state Assembly and Council, giving 10% reservation in education and jobs to the Maratha community. The legislation was based on a Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission report that identified the Marathas as socially and educationally backward.
However, the Act has since been challenged in the Bombay High Court through a public interest litigation.
Jarange Patil has been critical of this Act and has remained steadfast in his demand for the Maratha reservation under the Kunbi OBC category.
Also, in September 2023, the Mahayuti government set up a committee headed by Justice (retired) Sandeep Shinde, entrusting it with the task to work out a methodology to determine Marathas as Kunbi OBCs besides issuing Kunbi certificates to Marathas to avail the OBC quota.
Last week, the Vikhe-Patil cabinet panel gave a six-month extension to the Shinde committee to complete its mandate, which would be an uphill task in view of widespread objections and suggestions.
Vikhe-Patil said, “The cabinet sub-committee held a review meeting last week to discuss inclusion of sage soyare under reservation besides issues related to Kunbi certificates for Marathas.”
A senior BJP minister, who is part of the sub-committee said, “Jarange Patil should adopt a practical approach. Even if we accept his demand for Maratha reservation under OBC quota, it would be legally challenged. It would not stand a constitutional test.” He added that the government has not rejected all demands made by Jarange Patil, agreeing to consider some of them within the constitutional framework.
Sources in the state government’s Legal Department said: “Without concrete documentation, issuing Kunbi certificates to Marathas and their sage soyare to pave way for their OBC reservation would be a challenge.”
Various OBC bodies have already asserted that they would take to streets in protest if Jarange Patil’s demands are accepted by the government. OBC leader Laxman Hake said, “It would show that the government is bowing to Maratha pressure. The OBC groups will not allow any compromise on their quota.”
In Maharashtra, the total reservation has already crossed 50% ceiling stipulated by the Supreme Court, which include 19% quota for OBCs, 13% for Scheduled Castes (SCs), 7% for Scheduled Tribes (STs), 13% for Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), 10% for Marathas, and 10% for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).