P
une: The silent agitation of Marathas has put the state politics on a roller coaster, forcing parties to find ways and means to divert the collective Maratha strength to their camps ahead of civic elections termed 'mini Assembly' polls.
The BJP, with 24 per cent of Maratha votes in the 2014 assembly elections, sees the agitation as an opportunity to strengthen its base in the community by soothing the agitating Marathas. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has fired a salvo at "established" Maratha leaders in the Congress and the BJP, blaming them for not solving problems of the community. He has also praised Marathas for the manner in which silent marches are being organized.
BJP insiders feel that the chief minister and his supporters fear that the NCP and the Congress might attack Fadnavis' Brahmin identity to exploit Maratha marches and force the BJP to change its strategy.
Shiv Sena, with highest (29 per cent) Maratha votes in assembly polls, is trying to put BJP and Fadnavis in a tight spot by siding openly with Marathas and sending a message that the BJP leadership is not serious about their demands. Sena executive chief Uddhav Thackeray has demanded a special session of legislature be convened to discuss the issue of Atrocities Act.
"Shiv Sena is the only party which can attract backward Marathas because other parties, especially the NCP and the BJP, have elite established Maratha leadership," observed political analyst Prakash Pawar. He added that all political parties would not like to see new Maratha leadership from poor and backward Marathas, which would change the entire political scenario.
Stakes are high for the NCP and the Congress - the Maratha dominated parties in the state that lost their base in 2014 polls and fear a rout in forthcoming local elections. Political scientist Suhas Palshikar in his observations post-assembly elections highlighted that after the 2014 assembly polls Maharashtra has for the first time got a government which has kept elite Marathas aside. This fact has not gone down well with elite Marathas - restless after thrown out of power corridors.
Not surprisingly, NCP president Sharad Pawar and state Congress leaders are trying to divert the Maratha ire towards Fadnavis and his government.
"The government has lost faith of Maratha community and people are coming on road against them," said NCP state unit president Sunil Tatkare, adding that his party stood by the community's just demands. Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Congress MLA and leader of the opposition in the assembly, said his party was with Marathas and he would participate in one of the marches.
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