Maha’s quota ‘war’: Bhujbal threatens street protests over OBC dilution, Jarange Patil hits back

Mumbai/Jalna: The ongoing political tussle over reservations in Maharashtra escalated sharply on Friday as senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal issued a fierce warning to his own MahaYuti government against encroaching upon Other Backward Classes (OBC) quotas.

His fiery outburst drew an immediate, sharp retaliation from Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, further deepening the rift within the ruling MahaYuti coalition government.

Addressing a press conference, Minister Bhujbal fired a direct broadside at state Ministers and legislators visiting Jarange Patil’s hunger strike site in Antarwali Sarati, accusing the state government of demonstrating excessive eagerness to appease the activist’s demands.

Minister Bhujbal raised serious concerns over alleged document tampering to claim Kunbi-Maratha status and cautioned against overriding statutory procedures.

“The Caste Scrutiny Committee is a vital body, and no one should exert pressure on it,” he asserted, questioning lawmakers who promised to “correct” rejected caste certificates.

“Four Corporators in Mumbai lost their seats because their caste validity certificates were cancelled. Are you going to ‘correct’ those as well?”

Highlighting economic imbalances, Minister Bhujbal revealed he walked out of a Cabinet sub-committee meeting in protest after Rs 750 crore was allocated to the Maratha-focused Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation, compared to a mere Rs 5 crore granted to OBC welfare committees.

He demanded that if a dedicated Maratha-Kunbi Ministry is created, separate Ministries must be established for every community in the state.

Minister Bhujbal urged the state government to immediately clarify how a single candidate could simultaneously seek benefits under three distinct categories — OBC, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Taking aim at the Maratha Reservation Cabinet Sub-Committee led by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, the Minister questioned its authority to unilaterally issue local directives and Government Resolutions (GRs), warning that he will take to the streets if OBC interests continue to be sidelined.

Responding swiftly from his protest site in Antarwali Sarati, Manoj Jarange Patil launched a scathing personal attack on the veteran NCP leader Bhujbal, accusing him of exploiting the OBC community for political leverage.

“At this age, he (Chhagan Bhujbal) should look after his own politics and figure out how to make his nephew an MP,” Jarange Patil charged.

“He (Chhagan Bhujbal) consumed everything in the name of OBCs—the OBC Development Corporation was cleared out, and even Maharashtra Sadan wasn’t spared. The OBC community has now recognised his true nature as his decline has begun.”

Dismissing Minister Bhujbal’s demographic claims, Jarange Patil said, “Who told Bhujbal that the OBC population is 60 per cent? The massive Maratha community has only been granted a 10 per cent quota.”

The Maratha activist added, “People are watching how he (Chhagan Bhujbal) opportunistically switches sides—sometimes joining the Maha Vikas Aghadi, sometimes the MahaYuti, and sometimes aligning with Ajit Pawar.”

Jarange Patil reaffirmed that while the state government delegates have accepted key demands—including issuing Kunbi caste certificates to those with historical records—he will not end his fast until official implementation takes effect on the ground.

IANS