Internal Strife Surrounding Maratha-OBC Quota Stirs Up Conflict Inside Maharashtra Administration

In the heart of Maharashtra, a significant development has unfolded as the state government takes steps to address the ongoing dispute over Maratha and Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations.

The state government has formed a Cabinet sub-committee to address the grievances of OBC leaders and community members. Led by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the nine-member committee includes prominent figures like Chhagan Bhujbal, Ganesh Naik, Gulabrao Patil, Sanjay Rathod, Pankaja Munde, Atul Save, and Dattatray Bharne.

The committee's primary focus will be to recommend steps to ensure fair representation of OBCs in state services, public sector undertakings, statutory bodies, and semi-government institutions. The committee will also monitor programs run by the Maharashtra State OBC Finance and Development Corporation and review existing welfare schemes for OBCs, suggesting improvements where necessary.

However, the formation of this committee has not quelled the unrest. Veteran OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who skipped the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, has accused the government of acting in an unconstitutional and illegal manner. He has also threatened to legally challenge the Government Resolution (GR) related to the Hyderabad Gazette, which facilitates Maratha reservation under the OBC category.

Meanwhile, OBC leader Laxman Hake publicly tore a copy of the GR in protest, accusing the government of acting as if only Maratha votes matter, an injustice to all other communities. Hake has also warned of a political boycott of leaders who supported the Maratha quota agitation.

The ongoing dispute has caused internal tensions within the Maha Yuti government. In response, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is likely to meet with OBC protestors in Nagpur to de-escalate the situation.

The unrest has also spilled onto the streets, with Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange initiating an indefinite fast at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, demanding OBC-category reservation for Marathas. A chain hunger strike was also initiated by the Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh at Samvidhan Chowk in Nagpur on August 30.

As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the committee's recommendations will address the deep-seated concerns of the OBC community in Maharashtra. The head of the Cabinet Subcommittee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faces a challenging task in finding a solution that satisfies all parties involved.

Internal Strife Surrounding Maratha-OBC Quota Stirs Up Conflict Inside Maharashtra Administration