By Townhall Times The Maratha reservation issue has once again taken center stage in Maharashtra, sparking a nationwide debate. Led by Manoj Jarange Patil, the movement has not only heated up Maharashtra’s political landscape but also ignited a new discourse across the country. Jarange’s recent hunger strike and the massive gatherings of his supporters forced the Maharashtra government to issue a Government Resolution (GR) on September 2, 2025, allowing Marathas from the Marathwada region to obtain Kunbi caste certificates. This move aims to grant Marathas reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota. However, the critical question is whether this is a victory for social justice or a calculated strategy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to sow discord between the Maratha and OBC communities while suppressing the resounding cry of “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” (Vote Thief, Quit the Throne) across the nation.Timing of the Movement and Suspicious Intentions
Manoj Jarange Patil’s movements have consistently emerged at crucial political junctures.
In 2023 and 2024, his agitations coincided with the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, enabling the BJP to consolidate Maratha votes. Now, as the slogan “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” gains traction nationwide, Jarange’s latest movement raises suspicions. Critics argue it is an attempt to divert attention from the BJP’s tarnished image due to allegations of electoral malpractices. The protests, which began in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on August 29, 2025, culminated in the government’s decision on July 26, 2024, to issue Kunbi certificates to Marathas in Marathwada. This has sparked outrage among OBC communities, with leaders like Laxman Hake warning of street protests if Marathas are included in the OBC quota. The question arises: why is the reservation being offered under the OBC quota instead of the general category? Critics allege that the BJP and RSS are deliberately targeting the quotas of OBCs, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to create social tension and deepen the Maratha-OBC divide.A BJP-RSS Strategy?
The Maratha community, constituting about 33% of Maharashtra’s population, has long been politically influential. In contrast, the OBC community, including groups like Mali, Dhangar, and Vanjari, has been a traditional vote bank for the BJP. In the 1980s, RSS ideologue Vasantrao Bhagwat used the ‘M-Dh-V’ (Mali-Dhangar-Vanjari) formula to align non-Maratha OBCs with the BJP. This strategy helped the BJP secure 41 out of 46 seats in Marathwada during the 2024 Assembly elections. However, the Kunbi certificate issue threatens the OBCs’ 27% reservation quota, creating a sense of insecurity among them. Critics argue that the push to include Marathas in the OBC quota is a deliberate BJP-RSS ploy to polarize the Maratha and OBC communities, ensuring electoral gains from both groups. The Supreme Court struck down the Maratha reservation in 2021 for breaching the 50% quota cap, and experts believe the current Kunbi certificate move may also face legal challenges. Yet, this decision is fueling discontent among OBCs, risking social and political instability.A Bid to Suppress the ‘Vote Thief’ Slogan?
The “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” slogan has become a significant threat to the BJP, fostering public distrust. Critics suggest that Jarange’s movement and the government’s swift response—such as implementing the Hyderabad Gazette—are part of a BJP strategy to shift focus from electoral controversies to caste-based conflicts. By reigniting the Maratha reservation debate, the BJP aims to dilute the national narrative around its alleged electoral misconduct while reinforcing its political dominance in Maharashtra through social polarization.What Lies Ahead?
The Maratha reservation issue is complex, blending demands for social justice with political maneuvering. The government’s move to include Marathas in the OBC quota via Kunbi certificates faces both legal and social challenges. OBC leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal and Pankaja Munde have opposed the decision, labeling it an attack on OBC rights. Meanwhile, the Maratha community claims it as their historical right. The growing tension between Marathas and OBCs raises questions about whether this movement is genuinely about social justice or a political conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP and RSS. As the divide deepens, it threatens Maharashtra’s social fabric and underscores the BJP’s alleged use of caste politics to maintain power.
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