The ongoing friction between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil can be traced back to September 1, 2023, when police resorted to a lathi charge on protestors at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna. The clash highlighted deep-seated mistrust between the state administration and Maratha quota agitators, a tension that has been simmering since the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections last year.
While Jarange Patil had remained comparatively cooperative under Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s leadership between June 2022 and December 2024, the return of Fadnavis to the forefront brought a sharper edge to the agitation. During Shinde’s tenure, protestors had been successfully persuaded to return from Navi Mumbai in January, reflecting a more conciliatory approach.
However, over the past four days, the agitation escalated dramatically, reaching central Mumbai, with Fadnavis facing criticism for allegedly mismanaging the situation at Azad Maidan. The protest’s scale suggested a breakdown of coordination:
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, head of the Maratha sub-committee, was in Shirdi.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde remained mostly in Thane, offering only limited statements.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar stayed in Pune, promising to intervene if necessary.
It was Union Home Minister Amit Shah who stepped in, holding a closed-door meeting with both Fadnavis and Shinde after visiting Lalbaugcha Raja.
On Monday, a petition regarding the agitation reached the Bombay High Court, prompting the government to submit its position opposing the protests. Meanwhile, Fadnavis chaired several ministers’ committee meetings without the presence of Shinde or Pawar, highlighting a concentrated effort to take charge of the situation. The drafting of government resolutions (GRs) to address the protestors was carefully managed by the CM’s office, although their long-term effectiveness remains uncertain.
During a visit to Pune, Fadnavis pointed out that no prior efforts had been made to approach Jarange Patil directly, indicating a gap in engagement that may have aggravated the situation. By Tuesday, the government swiftly sent a ministerial delegation led by Vikhe Patil to negotiate with Jarange Patil.
