A special session is scheduled to take place in Maharashtra’s Assembly on Tuesday, with lawmakers set to deliberate on the Maratha reservation matter. The decision to convene this special session stems from the ongoing hunger strike of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil at Antarwali Saarati village in Jalna district.
Last week, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission submitted a comprehensive report on the socioeconomic and educational status of the Maratha community. In response to this report, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that Maratha reservations would be granted in accordance with legal provisions, pending the presentation of the report during the special assembly session.
Shinde emphasized that the survey conducted covered a substantial population, approximately 2-2.5 crore individuals. He assured that the government would ensure the interests of the OBC community while addressing the Maratha reservation issue. The special assembly session scheduled for February 20 will mark a pivotal moment in this regard.
Shinde reiterated the government’s commitment to granting Maratha reservations without infringing upon the existing quotas for other communities. He urged Manoj Jarange Patil to cease his fast, affirming the government’s positive stance on fulfilling the community’s reservation demands.
In anticipation of the special session, posters expressing gratitude towards CM Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and the Maratha community were displayed along routes leading to the Vidhan Bhavan.
However, Sanjay Lakhe Patil, coordinator of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, criticized the state government’s decision to convene a special session while a curative petition regarding the Maratha quota issue remains pending in the Supreme Court. He accused the government of employing deceptive tactics and argued that attempts to enact quota legislation contradict the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Expressing skepticism towards the government’s plan to base quotas on the recent survey conducted by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission, Patil highlighted concerns about the survey’s methodology and implications.
