Standing with Manoj Jarange-Patil in Vashi on Saturday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde declared, “I had taken an oath which I fulfilled today,” to the cheers of the throngs of Marathas in front of them. At that point, the activist’s announcement that the government had agreed to his demands and that he was ending the march to Mumbai signalled the end of the campaign to include Marathas in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category as Kunbis, a sub-caste of the community that receives reservation under the OBC quota.
Shinde, a Maratha who had been unsure about his future, has gained support from his political adversaries by taking this action and is credited with “giving reservation to Marathas.”
Following his master plan to split the Shiv Sena, he overthrew the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) administration in June 2022 and was appointed state chief minister. He also made it through the most recent Supreme Court legal battle. But in the last two years, doubts have been raised about both his ability to lead the government and his ability to lead the ruling alliance against the MVA coalition, which is headed by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. After the NCP split and Ajit Pawar joined the party, there were rumours that Shinde would soon step down because the BJP had successfully included a well-liked Maratha leader in its alliance.
Likewise, it was no secret that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis didn’t like Shinde. Speculation was fueled by the initial days of the Maratha agitation, when the Shinde-led government appeared to be ill-prepared to handle the crisis.
But Shinde saw an opportunity when the challenge presented itself.
Shinde has immersed himself in the centre of things ever since the administration found itself in hot water last September following a lathi charge on Maratha community members who had assembled to support Jarange-Patil’s fast in Jalna. He went to Jalna to put an end to Jarange-Patil’s first hunger strike, and he persuaded him to call off his second one by sending officials and retired judges. He defied the opinions of a number of cabinet ministers and spearheaded a special effort to grant Kunbi credentials to Marathas, as the campaigners had demanded. It’s interesting to note that the activist maintained his harsh criticism of opposition and ruling alliance leaders, all the while claiming to respect Shinde.
Shinde has now established himself as the alliance’s most Maratha-friendly figure with his most recent action. Marathas, who make up one-third of the population, have long dominated state politics and are politically powerful.
Shinde may find the development advantageous in securing his place in the ruling coalition and averting political conflicts with the opposition. However, some of his colleagues and observers worry that it could be a double-edged sword.
Initially, Shinde’s choices will need to withstand legal examination. Second, he must deal with the OBC community’s discontent, whose leaders are getting ready to challenge the decisions and cause tension between the two populations.
Up to February 16, the government is accepting comments and ideas regarding the announcement that grants reservation advantages to Maratha blood relatives who obtain Kunbi certificates. OBC organisations intend to send out a lot of objections.
The judgement is anticipated to be contested in court following the issuance of a final notification; if the latter does so, it is possible that Marathas and OBCs would square off.
“The government’s decision has not pleased the OBCs.” Our chances could be harmed if there is a Maratha against the OBC conflict, according to a senior BJP minister who wished to remain anonymous.
“The reservation problem still exists. The Shinde government will find it difficult to defend its choices. If it doesn’t work, Shinde might be charged with misleading the Marathas, according to political analyst Padmabhushan Deshpande of Mumbai.
However, the OBC category’s current castes are becoming dissatisfied and might rebel against the Shinde government. It is difficult to forecast, though, how the math will stack up in favour of or against the ruling coalition. Shinde appears to have overcome his opponents at this point,” he continued.
