As Pawan Kharwa goes about canvassing for Vitthal Rabade (Rabade mama) of the Janjit Loksahi Celebration within the Gangakhed meeting constituency in Parbhani district, some of the widespread slogan he raises is “Jai OBC”.
Kharwa, who earlier was an lively member of the Ok Chandrashekar-Rao led Bharat Rashtriya Celebration (BRS), stated this transfer sums up their political exercise. “This election, we’re preventing to make sure our folks get justice. The established events haven’t given us justice,” he stated.
On the background of Manoj Jarange Patil’s motion for inclusion of the Marathas within the OBC group, Kharwa feels this slogan would assist them obtain a pan-OBC consolidation.
When Jarange Patil began his motion to incorporate the Marathas throughout the OBC class, he had confronted backlash from virtually all established OBC leaders. As Maharashtra goes to vote on November 20, the divide between the Marathas and the OBCs is one thing that has everybody guessing.
For the Mahayuti, particularly the BJP, the consolidation of OBC votes is one thing they hope would assist counter an obvious Maratha consolidation, particularly within the Marathwada region- the epicenter of Jarange Patil’s motion. Even NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Maharashtra chief Jayant Patil, in an interview with The Indian Categorical, stated Beed has seen such polarization which he stated was fueled by the BJP.
On floor indicators of consolidation may not be very seen however Maratha youth didn’t draw back from speaking about their disappointment when Jarange Patil introduced he wouldn’t area candidates within the upcoming elections. Mangesh Kadam, from Wanjarkheda village in Latur, stated they have been all able to work for the candidate supported by Jarange Patil.
“He was from the subsequent village. We might have given the current MLA (Dhiraj Deshmukh—the Congress MLA from Latur rural) struggle. However when Dada (as Jarange Patil is thought amongst his followers) requested us to withdraw the varieties, we did so,” he stated. Kadam just isn’t very forthcoming about whom he’s going to vote for – all he says is that Dada has requested them to defeat those that have been in opposition to the reservation of Marathas.
Laxman Extra, from Sonkhed village in Nanded, was one of many many candidates who filed his nomination on the behest of Jarange Patil. When Jarange Patil requested his folks to take again their nomination, Extra did as directed and determined to work for impartial candidate Sanjay Ghogare.
“Ghogare was with the BJP however resigned when Jarange Patil referred to as his agitation. He’s working for the Maratha group,” stated Extra. Requested if this election would see a Maratha versus OBC consolidation, Extra replies within the unfavorable. “Now we have not antagonized any one- we’re asking for our rights,” he stated.
A extra nuanced rationalization has been provided by an Congress OBC chief who felt in locations the place events have fielded OBC candidates, the division may be felt.
Sourabh Hatkar, a PhD scholar from the College of Edinburgh, opined in opposition to an OBC consolidation. “OBC is a broad umbrella time period, which have many sub-castes below it. At present situation, any consolidation appears troublesome,” he stated.
Hatkar talked about meeting constituencies in Nashik the place a number of OBC leaders are going through one another within the battle of the poll. In some constituencies like Nandgaon, the place Sameer Bhujbal, the nephew of NCP (Ajit Pawar) minister Chhagan is contesting as an impartial, Hatkar stated different OBC candidates had met Jarange Patil to ask for his help. “Thus, general a broad OBC consolidation appears a bit far fetched. It could occur at some locations however it could be largely native,” he stated.
Hatkar, who’s the founding father of the group referred to as Medhpal Putra Military (Military of Sons of Sepherds), is from the Dhangar group which in Maharashtra is classed below the Vimukta Jati and Nomadic tribes. This group, which makes up over 10 per cent of Maharashtra’s inhabitants, Hatkar stated was left with out a central management this time. “So most of them would vote as per the native circumstances,” he stated.
