It may polarise non-Marathas

Though the silent protest by Marathas in Mumbai may have generated impressive numbers, and achieved little substantial for the community, Maratha leaders admit that the 58 morchas (marches) held across Maharashtra since last year, culminating in Wednesday’s show of strength, may have created a social cleavage between Marathas and non-Marathas, which could work to the ruling BJP’s favour.

The three main demands of the protestors were sub-judice or under the Centre’s purview. This gives the Devendra Fadnavis-led government little space for anything substantial.

Maratha leaders admit that the morchas may polarize non-Maratha groups like Dalits, tribals, OBCs and other upper castes behind the BJP. Since the Sharad Pawar-led NCP is seen as a Maratha-dominated party, the morchas were perceived as the handiwork of the opposition, which could work in the BJP’s favour as was evidenced by the results of the recent local body polls.

“The demand to dilute the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, comes under the Centre’s purview and has created unrest in Dalits and tribals. OBCs are increasingly assertive and uneasy at the attempt of the Marathas to eventually secure quotas in jobs and employment through their category,” a Maratha leader noted. The Maratha- Kunbi caste …read more