MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Assembly on Tuesday passed the Maratha Reservation Bill, that will grant the community a 10% reservation in education and government jobs. The bill was swiftly approved in minutes after being introduced in a special Assembly session by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The Maharashtra State Socially and Educationally Backward Bill 2024 received unanimous support, except for Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who opposed the inclusion of Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. The bill will become law once it passes the Legislative Council and receives assent unless challenged in a court of law.

The legislation, which was passed with unanimous support, states that Marathas constitute 28% of Maharashtra's population. It argues that a significant number of castes and groups already receive around 52% of reservations and that placing Marathas in the OBC category would be unfair. The bill highlights that the backwardness of the Maratha community is distinct from that of the OBCs, as it is more pervasive, penetrative, and regressive.

While the ruling alliance, including the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), hailed the bill as a landmark decision, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil who has been fighting for the community criticized it as a betrayal of the community. Patil insisted that the reservation should fall under the OBC category, accusing the government of making the decision for electoral gains.

Despite the bill's passage, Jarange-Patil, who has been on a hunger strike for seven days, remained dissatisfied, reiterating his demand for OBC status for Marathas and criticizing the government for prioritizing electoral considerations over genuine community needs.

NCP's OBC leader and Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal expressed support for a separate Maratha reservation but condemned Jarange-Patil’s aggressive stance, urging him to end his protest.

Bhujbal also accused Jarange-Patil of spreading fear and using abusive language against state leaders, including CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, calling for immediate government action.

Bhujbal has consistently argued against reducing OBC reservations to accommodate the Maratha quota, noting that the Maratha community already has significant representation in government and jobs. He also referenced the violent Maratha reservation protests, during which the homes of two MLAs were set on fire, expressing concern for his own safety while reaffirming his commitment to the cause.