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Maratha Quota Push Tests BJP’s OBC Strategy in Maharashtra
Some Maratha groups want more members of their community to receive Kunbi certificates.
Kunbis are included in Maharashtra’s OBC category, which has a 27% reservation quota.
OBC groups worry that many more Marathas could then compete for those reserved opportunities.
They also want a caste census with a separate OBC category.
The BJP has traditionally relied heavily on OBC support in Maharashtra.
At the same time, the party is trying to respond to Maratha demands.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says the government will be fair to both communities.
The disagreement is difficult because both groups are important to the BJP politically.
Protests could grow if the government does not resolve the dispute.
Manoj Jarange-Patil is seeking broader access to Kunbi certificates for Marathas beyond Hyderabad Gazette records.
OBC leaders fear expanded Kunbi certification could increase competition for the existing 27% OBC quota.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis says neither OBC interests nor legally valid Maratha claims will be compromised.
The BJP’s OBC-focused strategy helped it win 132 of Maharashtra’s 288 Assembly seats in 2024.
The dispute follows the Supreme Court’s 2021 decision striking down Maharashtra’s earlier Maratha reservation law.
- Who
- Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, OBC organizations and leaders, the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and the BJP.
- What
- A dispute over expanding Kunbi certificates for Marathas and the potential effect on Maharashtra’s existing OBC reservation quota.
- Where
- Maharashtra, including the Marathwada region formerly part of Hyderabad State and proposed protests in Mumbai.
- When
- The dispute has intensified over nearly a decade, with major milestones in 2021, 2024 and 2025.
- Why
- Maratha groups seek reservation access amid economic distress and unemployment, while OBC groups want their quota protected and a separate OBC column in the caste census.
Maratha reservation advocates
OBC organizations
Kunbi certificates
Maratha reservation advocates
Historical records, including Hyderabad State records, show Kunbi ancestry among sections of the Maratha community and should support valid certificate claims.
OBC organizations
A broader interpretation of the records could substantially increase the number of Marathas eligible for the OBC quota.
Reservation and economic hardship
Maratha reservation advocates
Supporters say economic distress and unemployment are driving Marathas toward Jarange-Patil’s demand, and that OBC-category reservation is needed after the earlier Maratha reservation route failed.
OBC organizations
OBC leaders argue that the government must first protect the existing OBC reservation pool and address how much reservation one community can access through different routes.
Government response
Maratha reservation advocates
The government should ensure that legally and constitutionally valid Maratha claims are recognized, including through Kunbi certificates.
OBC organizations
OBC groups say the government has shown a partial attitude by engaging more actively with Maratha leaders and fear that its assurances about protecting the quota are insufficient.
Key facts
- Existing OBC quota
- Maharashtra’s OBC reservation quota is 27%.
- 2024 BJP result
- The BJP won 132 of Maharashtra’s 288 Assembly seats.
- Maratha reservation law
- A 2018 law provided 12% reservation in education and 13% in government jobs for Marathas.
- Supreme Court ruling
- In 2021, the Supreme Court struck down the Maratha reservation law, saying it breached the 50% ceiling.
- 2025 government resolution
- A 2025 resolution allowed eligible Marathas in Marathwada to seek OBC reservation after proving Kunbi lineage through Hyderabad Gazette records.
- OBC demands
- OBC leaders want a caste census with a separate OBC column and assurances that their quota will remain intact.
- Political strategy
- The BJP has historically used OBC consolidation, including the MADHAV grouping of Mali, Dhangar and Vanjari communities, to expand its support base.
Quotes
A coordinator of the Maratha Kranti Morcha
Maratha Kranti Morcha coordinator who requested anonymity
“Our approach has been to engage in dialogue and get our demands fulfilled. If the government fails to heed our demand for a caste census with a separate column for OBCs and ensure that the OBC quota remains intact, we will be forced to take to the streets.”
indianexpress.com
“In Manoj Jarange-Patil, poor and unemployed Marathas find hope. They are made to believe that reservation within the OBC category will resolve their economic problems.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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