Opinion: Is the fire of reservation still so strong in Maharashtra that BJP will get scorched again?

Author: Jaideep Hardikar
The story revolves around the anger, frustration and yes, the demand for reservation of the Maratha community of Maharashtra. The youth of this community feel that they are being discriminated against in education, politics and society. Due to this feeling they are demanding reservation. Manoj Jarange Patil, who gave voice to this demand, is an ordinary farmer. Let’s start the story from Beed, where 21-year-old Deepa Bhosale committed suicide. Her brother Ganesh tells that Deepa was worried after seeing less posts for women candidates in police recruitment. This story of Deepa tells the pain of Maharashtra which is fueling the issue of reservation. Farmer suicide, migration and unemployment are common in drought-hit areas of Marathwada and western Maharashtra.

It is in this background that Maratha Kranti Morcha emerged seven years ago. This organization raised voice against the neglect of the Maratha community and their rights through peaceful rallies. These rallies did not change the politics of that time, but shocked the Other Backward Classes, Dalits and the ruling class. After the Mandal Commission, OBCs and Dalits had become politically empowered, due to which the Maratha community began to see its grip loosening.

This is where Manoj Jarange Patil emerges. Jarange, who belonged to an ordinary farmer family, again fueled the demand for Maratha reservation. he/she staged a long protest in Antarwali Sarti village of Jalna district, in which thousands of Marathas participated. Jarange had said in an interview to a Marathi newspaper, ‘Neither can I be tempted nor can I be pressurized.’

Police lathicharge in October last year added fuel to the fire and the Maratha community from across the country came out in support of Jarange. Villages in Marathwada and western Maharashtra banned the entry of ruling leaders. The slogan of ‘Gaon Bandi’ became very popular among the youth. The change in Maharashtra politics in June was the result of this anger.

In the Lok Sabha elections, BJP could not save its traditional seats Jalna, Beed, Nanded and Ahmednagar. This clearly shows how much dissatisfaction there was among the public. BJP made efforts to give importance to OBCs over Maratha community, which will also impact the assembly elections.

Beed is an example of this. There is always tension here due to lack of water. Vanjari community dominates this district. BJP leader Gopinath Munde had organized this community. After Munde, his/her daughter Pankaja and nephew Dhananjay took over the politics here. This created a feeling among the Maratha community that they were being ignored. Pankaja Munde had to face defeat from Maratha leader Bajrang Sonawane. Due to this, the lines of Vanjari vs Maratha in Beed have deepened.

Manoj Jarange believes that BJP is trying to woo smaller OBC groups by weakening the bigger castes. he/she had said in an interview, ‘Patel, Gurjar, Jat, Maratha, everyone is being sidelined by BJP.’ Jarange is always seen wearing white kurta and saffron gamchha. The saffron color symbolizes his/her faith in his/her idol, Chhatrapati Shivaji.

‘I want to unite my community, but if people want to remain scattered and unorganized, I can’t do anything,’ says Jarange.

Jarange has decided not to field its candidates in the assembly elections. They believe that they will not do anything that will benefit BJP and Devendra Fadnavis, who have tried to create division among the OBC and Maratha communities.

Manoj Jarange is eyeing a long fight. They do not want to lose the social capital they have acquired over the years. Reservation is not the solution to social and economic problems, but the questions raised by Jarange are not going to be put to rest soon. Neither Mahayuti nor Mahavikas Aghadi has offered any concrete solution to the burning economic and social problems of the state.

Deepa Bhosle’s family in Beed is now left with only her memories. his/her mother says, ‘I raised him/her like a son. I thought that this girl has a strong heart and mind to fight difficulties.

The stories of Deepa and Jarange narrate the social and political turmoil of Maharashtra. The demand for reservation has written a new chapter in the state, what will be its outcome, only time will tell.

The author is associated with an organization named People’s Archive of Rural India.