Maharashtra Elections: Complex Caste Demands and Political Divides Shape State’s 2024 Polls

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Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil during the Marataha agitation rally in Jalna district of Maharashtra, in January.

In the run-up to the Maharashtra Assembly elections on November 20, tensions are high as various groups across the state demand recognition and benefits. The political landscape is divided with groups like the Marathas, OBCs and Dhangars pushing for more influence and representation. These demands and protests point to the growing fragmentation in Maharashtra’s political scene where issues of reservation and representation are front and center.

Maratha Protest for Reservation

The Marathas making up about 30% of Maharashtra’s population have been pushing for reserved spots in government jobs and education. The community, largely agrarian and historically influential faces economic challenges and decreasing land holdings. Many Marathas remain in economically distressed conditions.

Manoj Jarange-Patil, a prominent figure in the recent Maratha protests has been vocal about the community’s struggles. The demand to include Marathas in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota has raised concerns among existing OBC groups. In recent elections, the Maratha protests led to losses for the BJP in Marathwada, a Maratha-majority region. If the state government does not address these issues, the Maratha vote could be significant in the upcoming election.

OBC Concerns and Pushback

The push to include Marathas under the OBC category has angered many in the OBC community who make up 52% of the state’s population. Some OBC leaders argue that granting the Marathas access to their 27% reservation quota would limit opportunities for existing OBCs who include groups like Malis, Vanjaris and Kunbis. The tension between Marathas and OBCs has already led to social boycotts and protests in districts like Beed, Jalna and Parbhani.

OBC leaders such as Professor Laxman Hake are now actively campaigning for OBC-only candidates, rallying against any sharing of their quota with the Marathas. This divide could heavily influence voting in regions like Vidarbha and Marathwada where many seats are affected by the OBC vote.

Dhangar Demand for Schedule Tribe Status

The Dhangar community which forms about 9% of the population currently holds a 3.5% reservation under the OBC quota but wants to be included under the Schedule Tribe (ST) category which offers 7% reservation. The government has been hesitant as this change could upset the current ST groups who benefit from the reserved spots.

The BJP has been trying to appeal to the Dhangar vote supporting the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha led by Dhangar leader Mahadev Jankar. Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal, a tribal leader recently protested the inclusion of Dhangars under the ST category, further complicating matters. The Dhangar demand for ST status has a direct impact on around 30 seats in regions like western Maharashtra and Marathwada.

Growing Economic Gaps and Social Divides

The root of many of these issues lies in the uneven economic development across Maharashtra. While Maharashtra’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is the highest in India over half of it is generated by only five districts—mainly Mumbai, Thane and Pune. This economic divide has left many rural communities struggling despite the state’s overall wealth.

The historic 1972 Employment Guarantee Scheme aimed to provide jobs in rural areas but failed to reach the neediest populations. Today communities are left competing for limited reserved seats in government jobs and educational institutions further intensifying the demand for reservation from different groups.

Hindutva Mobilization Efforts

Adding to these divisions, the Hindu Sakal Samaj (HSS), a coalition of Hindutva organizations is campaigning across Maharashtra to unite Hindu voters warning against supposed threats from the Muslim community which makes up about 12% of the population. High-profile leaders like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are rallying support with the slogan “Batenge toh katenge” (Hindus will be divided if they are split), trying to unify the Hindu vote amidst the ongoing caste-based protests.

What to Expect in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections

As Maharashtra prepares for its assembly elections, the outcomes will likely reflect these deep-rooted social, economic and political divides. The demands for reservation and representation from the Marathas, OBCs and Dhangars have created complex divides within the state. The parties that succeed in balancing these demands and addressing economic inequality are likely to gain a significant edge in the upcoming election.

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