Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has dismissed claims that his agitation for Maratha reservation had no impact on the Maharashtra Assembly elections, where the BJP-led Mahayuti swept the polls. The alliance won 40 out of 46 seats in the MVA stronghold of Marathwada, including all five seats in Jalna, the epicenter of Jarange’s movement advocating reservations for the Maratha community in education and employment.
Addressing the media on Sunday, Jarange clarified that he and his agitation were not aligned with any political party. “We did not support any political party or contest in the elections. I gave the Maratha community the freedom to vote as they saw fit. Maratha voters exercised their judgment, and that contributed to the Mahayuti’s success. The Maratha community is present across all parties and played an active role where they were,” he stated.
Jarange refuted the notion of a so-called ‘Jarange factor’ influencing the elections, adding, “If there were a Jarange factor, the Mahayuti would not have achieved such success. Claims of a ‘Jarange factor’ or ‘Maratha factor’ would take a lifetime to decode.”
He also highlighted that 204 representatives from the Maratha community were elected, emphasizing the community’s broad representation across party lines. Addressing criticisms directed at him, Jarange remarked, “They used sweet words to win Maratha votes. Now that they are in power, they must govern responsibly. The Maratha community has no special demands and owes nothing to anyone in power.”
Jarange’s comments come amidst discussions about the role of his agitation in shaping voter behavior in the region. While his influence seemed to affect the Mahayuti negatively during the Lok Sabha elections, this time, the alliance managed to consolidate its position, raising questions about the dynamics of Maratha support and its impact on Maharashtra’s political landscape.