In a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, OBC leader Haribhau Rathod presented a formula on Wednesday to address the ongoing Maratha reservation issue, a matter that has taken center stage in the state’s political landscape. Rathod, a former MP and president of Banjara Kranti Morcha, suggested modifying the quota equation for his community as a resolution.
Rathod’s proposal involves increasing the Other Backward Class (OBC) reservation from the existing 27 percent to 38 percent. According to him, this adjustment not only addresses the Maratha reservation concern but also ensures the preservation of the OBC quota without compromise. He emphasized that by raising the overall quota, both the Marathas’ demand for reservation in government education and jobs and the OBCs’ desire to maintain their 27 percent quota can be accommodated.
The OBC leader asserted that the optimal way forward is to grant the Maratha community reservation under a subcategory within the OBC. Rathod suggested allocating a 10 percent quota specifically for Kunbi-Marathas under this sub-category, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the overall OBC quota.
Supporting his proposal with reference to the Jayant Banthia Commission report on OBC reservation, Rathod highlighted the empirical data that indicates OBCs constitute 37.70 percent of the population.
While acknowledging that there is a provision for exceeding the 50 percent reservation limit in the state under extraordinary circumstances and subject to empirical data, Rathod pointed out instances in other states where reservation has surpassed the mandated ceiling. He emphasized the importance of providing empirical data and reasons for reservation hikes to sustain such decisions.
Rathod urged the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission to consider the empirical data and the backwardness of the Maratha community, recommending the state government to explore the option of reservation under a sub-category within the OBC for Marathas.
In the backdrop of the escalating demand for Maratha reservation in Maharashtra, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil has planned a rally in Mumbai on January 20, advocating for Maratha reservation within the OBC category. However, some OBC organizations and leaders, such as OBC Jan Morcha president Prakash Shendge and Maharashtra OBC Mahasangh president Babanrao Taywade, have expressed opposition to including Marathas under the OBC category. They propose a separate and independent category for Marathas to ensure the preservation of the existing OBC quota.
