Real Estate Maharashtra
Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange-Patil Speaks Out
By GeoSquare News Desk · Published 2024-11-25
Mumbai Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has refuted suggestions that his agitation did not play a significant role in the Maharashtra assembly elections, which were overwhelmingly won by the Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. The Mahayuti alliance secured 40 out of 46 seats in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) stronghold of Marathwada, including all five seats in Jalna, where Jarange's movement for quotas for the Maratha community in jobs and education has been centered.
During the previous Lok Sabha elections, Jarange’s activism led to the Mahayuti alliance losing in seven out of eight constituencies in the region. However, this time around, his influence appeared to be less pronounced. Addressing this, Jarange clarified his position and took issue with those who suggested that the 'Jarange factor' had failed.
“We did not support any political party. We were not even in the fray. I had freed the Maratha community from any restrictions, asking them to vote for whichever party they chose. Maratha voters did what they thought was right, and that played a role in the success of the Mahayuti government. The Maratha community is spread across all parties, and they worked hard wherever they were,” Jarange explained.
“There was no Jarange factor. If there had been, Mahayuti would not have been so successful,” he added, emphasizing that the claims of the 'Jarange factor' and 'Maratha factor' are complex and would take a long time to fully understand.
Jarange also pointed out that 204 members from the Maratha community were elected. In response to criticism, he stated, “They used sweet words to win Maratha votes. Now they are in power, they must govern responsibly. The Maratha community has no special demands from anyone. It doesn’t matter who comes to power; we owe them nothing.”
Maratha Quota Activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has been a prominent figure in advocating for reservations for the Maratha community in Maharashtra. His activism has often been a key factor in influencing electoral outcomes in the state. Despite recent successes for the Mahayuti alliance, Jarange remains a significant voice in the region, highlighting the importance of the Maratha community in Maharashtra’s political landscape.