In a significant political event ahead of Maharashtra’s assembly elections, Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil addressed his inaugural Dusserah Melava at Narayan Gad in Beed on Saturday. The rally, attended by lakhs of enthusiastic supporters, comes amid ongoing protests from the Maratha community for reservation rights. Jarange’s speech was viewed as a call for change, with an implicit appeal for support toward the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the opposition alliance in Maharashtra.
During the rally, Jarange made an impassioned plea, stating, “We need a change and promise me you will do it.” Though he refrained from naming any political parties, his words were interpreted as an indirect endorsement of the MVA, which could potentially boost the opposition’s momentum in the lead-up to the elections.
Jarange has been a vocal critic of the current Shinde Sena-BJP government, conducting six hunger strikes to demand rightful reservation for the Maratha community. Following his latest hunger strike earlier this month, he issued a stern warning to the ruling Mahayuti coalition, emphasizing that if the Maratha community’s demands for inclusion are not met before the model code of conduct is enforced, those in power “will not be spared.”
In a previous address in August, Jarange had declared to his supporters that political power is essential for securing reservations, stating, “There is no option but to get political power if we want a reservation.” While he has expressed reluctance to enter politics himself, he acknowledged that the necessity of ensuring reservation rights for the Maratha community may compel him to reconsider.
As expectations grew that Jarange would announce his candidacy during this rally, he chose instead to focus on urging his supporters to instigate “a change” in Maharashtra, subtly signaling his alignment with the MVA without revealing any specific electoral strategies.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the political climate is heating up with both factions of Shiv Sena preparing to hold their own Dusserah Melavas on the same day. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) will gather at Shivaji Park, while the Eknath Shinde-led faction will host their rally at Azad Maidan. Both gatherings are anticipated to be pivotal in launching their respective election campaigns as the announcement of assembly poll dates by the Election Commission of India looms.
With Jarange’s rally and the concurrent Shiv Sena Melavas, Maharashtra’s political landscape is set for a dynamic shift as parties gear up for the impending electoral battle, with reservation for the Maratha community becoming a central issue in the discourse.
