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Mumbai, Maharashtra: In response to the ongoing demands for Maratha reservation, a special session of the Maharashtra Assembly has been scheduled for February 20. The decision was made during the weekly Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, following a hunger strike by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil in Jalna district.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured on Friday that Maratha reservation would be granted in accordance with the law, and a report would be presented during the special assembly session. Shinde highlighted the extensive survey conducted on nearly 2-2.5 crore people and emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that the OBC community is not left behind in the process.
The decision to convene the special session was influenced by the hunger strike of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil. The Chief Minister’s office issued a note stating, “The cabinet meeting has given its nod to convene a one-day special session of the legislature on Tuesday, February 20, to discuss the various demands of the Maratha community.”
Ahead of the assembly session, a meeting of the Maha Vikas Aghadi took place to strategize for the session. Congress president Nana Patole commented that the BJP government in the state was not following the constitutional process for discussion, prompting the need for a strategy session.
In the midst of these developments, Maharashtra’s political landscape is undergoing changes, as veteran politician Sharad Pawar challenges the Election Commission’s decision to recognize the faction led by his nephew Ajit Pawar as the ‘real’ Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed Sharad Pawar to use ‘Nationalist Congress Party–Sharad Chandra Pawar’ until further orders, contesting the Election Commission’s ruling.
The political scenario in Maharashtra remains fluid, with the Maratha reservation issue and the internal disputes within the NCP adding complexity to the state’s political dynamics.
