Quota activist Manoj Jarange has announced the commencement of an indefinite hunger strike from midnight on Monday, marking his sixth such protest over the past year.
Jarange is demanding that the Maratha community be classified as Kunbis under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Speaking to reporters at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, the epicentre of the Maratha quota movement, Jarange urged the government to implement historical gazettes from the former Hyderabad State, Bombay Presidency, and Satara Sansthan, which he claims recognised Marathas as Kunbis, an agrarian community.
"I have no choice but to undertake this fast unto death," Jarange declared. "I am determined to ensure the defeat of candidates from the ruling parties in the forthcoming Assembly elections."
OBC quota activist Navnath Waghmare has warned he will launch his own hunger strike starting Tuesday if Jarange proceeds with his fast.
Jarange has also accused Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal of obstructing Maratha reservation efforts. He alleged that Fadnavis is hindering the reservation process and that Bhujbal is inciting riots by pitting OBCs against Maratha reservations.
Additionally, Jarange has voiced support for the Dhangar community's demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.
Jarange has previously staged hunger strikes on August 29 and October 25 last year, as well as February 10, June 4, and July 20, 2024.
These protests have mobilised the Maratha community and led to the state government offering a 10 per cent reservation for Marathas in education and government jobs. However, this reservation, categorised as socially and educationally backward, was rejected by Jarange.
Waghmare has accused Jarange of staging "drama" with his protests and is opposed to granting Maratha reservations under the OBC category.
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