BJP leader Danve challenges Jarange to field 288 Maratha candidates in Maharashtra assembly polls

Activist Manoj Jarange called on the Maratha community to prepare for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. In response, BJP leader and former Union Minister Raosaheb Danve challenged Jarange to field 288 Maratha candidates in the polls if he was unsatisfied with the reservation provided to his community.

Danve, addressing a press conference, mentioned that the state government has already granted 10% reservation to the Maratha community. He stated that according to the law, the reservation has been given.

However, he suggested that if Jarange was not content, he should field his own candidates in all 288 assembly constituencies in the state. Jarange, speaking at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, urged the Maratha community to prepare to contest the upcoming assembly polls, emphasizing that political power is necessary to secure reservation in government jobs and education. He expressed confidence that Marathas, Muslims, and Dalits would bring about a significant change and come to power in the state after the October elections. The activist has been advocating for reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

This is despite the state government enacting a law in February to provide them with a 10% quota under a separate category. However, OBC leaders, including cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal, have opposed any dilution of the existing quota for backward communities. Danve also expressed that they believe the Maratha community should receive reservation but not at the expense of other communities’ quotas. He criticized the leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), accusing them of politicizing the Maratha reservation issue for electoral gains.

Additionally, Danve urged Congress MPs to raise the issue of providing reservation to Marathas in the OBC category in Parliament. He stated that if they raise the issue, it reflects their sincerity, otherwise, they are selfish and insincere. Danve also criticized the MVA, asserting that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won the election and come to power at the Centre, rather than the MVA claiming victory in the Lok Sabha elections.