Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal (left) challenges Manoj Jarange (right). (Image: PTI)
Bhujbal was firm in his stance that the demand for Maratha reservation should not come at the cost of the OBC community’s rights.
In a sharp political exchange, Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal challenged activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to contest 88 out of the 288 assembly seats in the state and prove his influence by winning at least eight of them. Bhujbal threw the gauntlet at the OBC Mahaelgar gathering in Sangli, daring Jarange to step into the electoral arena if he had the courage.
Bhujbal was firm in his stance that the demand for Maratha reservation should not come at the cost of the OBC community’s rights. “Grant Marathas their reservation, but do not touch the OBC quota,” Bhujbal said, emphasising that the state’s leadership, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, have all assured that OBC reservations would remain unaffected. The minister was equally critical of Sangli MP Vishal Patil, drawing a stark contrast between the late Vasantdada Patil and his successors.
“We have not come here to take away your MP seat,” Bhujbal remarked, referring to the diminishing legacy of Sangli’s political lineage. Bhujbal further clarified that no OBC reservation would be diverted to the Maratha community, citing discussions with four legal experts at the central level. “It’s impossible to grant OBC reservation to the Marathas, especially to those with influential connections,” Bhujbal stated, underlining the legal and judicial constraints against such a move.
Supporting Bhujbal’s stance, MLA Gopichand Padalkar voiced the OBC community’s opposition, not to Maratha reservation per se, but to the inclusion of Marathas within the OBC category. “The Maratha community has been granted a 10 per cent reservation, and there is no opposition from OBC leaders to that. Our fight is against the infiltration of those with connections into the OBC quota,” Padalkar argued.
Former MLA Prakash Shendge also joined the fray, criticising Manoj Jarange for his shifting demands. “One day, he demands that all Marathas be given Kunbi certificates, the next, he insists that the well-connected be granted reservation. The fact is that Marathas will not get reservation from the OBC quota—several commissions and even the Supreme Court have ruled this out,” Bhujbal reiterated.
During the event, other leaders, including Professor Laxman Hake, former minister Anna Dange, and Navnath Waghmare, were present, collectively voicing their support for the OBC cause. Bhujbal ended his speech with a clear message: “Fill our backlog, then consider other reservations.” This statement reflects the OBC community’s demand for equitable representation before any additional reservations are considered.
Jarange on Sunday led a peace rally in Pune, to advocate for the inclusion of the Maratha community in the OBC category.
