As Maharashtra prepares for its assembly elections on November 20, with 97 million voters eyeing the 288 seats, the political scene is more divided than ever. The state’s complex election dynamics are being influenced heavily by reservation policies, especially the contentious Maratha reservation issue.
The region of Marathwada has emerged as a crucial battleground, with reservation policies and caste-related matters taking center stage. The Maratha community's demand for inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota has sparked a heated debate that intensifies as the election draws closer. The issue gained traction after the September 2023 lathicharge on Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, which brought Maratha reservation to the forefront of political discussions.
Marathas hold significant political influence in Marathwada, and their demand for OBC status has become a rallying cry. Patil has openly criticized the state government for excluding the Maratha community from the OBC quota, further fueling tensions. In an attempt to placate other communities, including tribals and OBCs, the ruling Mahayuti coalition has introduced new corporations for groups like Agris, Vani-Vani, Lohar, Shimpi, and Gavali.
In the Marathwada region, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting 20 of the 46 assembly seats, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is fighting for 16. The region also has a significant Muslim population, which makes up about 15 percent of the electorate.
Meanwhile, the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), has promised a caste-based census and the removal of the 50 percent cap on reservations if they come to power. This promise has given the MVA a new platform to attract marginalized communities ahead of the polls.
However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has criticized the opposition for politicizing the Maratha reservation issue. He pointed out that past governments had failed to resolve the matter and claimed that his administration had already provided a 10 percent reservation for Marathas without impacting the quotas of other communities.
The Maratha community, which makes up nearly a third of Maharashtra's population, has long sought inclusion in the OBC category to access reservation benefits in education and government jobs. Despite several attempts by state governments to address this demand, legal challenges and political controversies have plagued the issue.
The Maratha reservation issue has sparked significant legal and political debate, primarily due to its impact on other communities' quotas and the constitutional limit of 50 percent on total reservations. In 2019, the state government introduced a 16 percent reservation for Marathas, but the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional, as it exceeded the 50 percent cap. This decision led to protests and renewed agitations.
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