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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday indicated that the State Government is not averse to offer caste-based reservations to the Maratha community. Addressing people at a rally in Ahmednagar, Fadnavis said the community should prepare to celebrate on December 1.
He made the announcement after the Backward Class Commission submitted its Maratha reservation report on Thursday to the Chief Secretary DK Jain.
The Commission is led by retired Justice NG Gaikwad.
Fadnavis’ office had tweeted on Wednesday that the State government will need 15 days to complete all the statutory requirements and it was standing firm on all the timelines and the commitments announced earlier.
Jain told media persons at the State Secretariat that the Backward Class Commission report has been received. It looks into the social and economic conditions of the Marathas. Decisions will be taken after a detailed study.
Media reports quoted a Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra who said the BJP cannot afford to lose its core base — the OBCs — ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.. The government has to provide the community 16 per cent reservation. However, currently, 52 per cent quota is in place. Therefore, the total reservation will go up to 68 per cent.
Challenges ahead
“The government is expecting that those people opposing the decision will approach the court after the cabinet clears the recommendations of the commission and tables it in the Legislative Assembly during its Winter Session. If the court admits the plea but does not stay the decision, like in the case of Tamil Nadu, then the State Government can go ahead with the new reservations. Problems will arise if the courts give a stay order ahead of the elections,” the Minister said.
Political commentator, Nagesh Kesari told BusinessLine that people are eagerly waiting to understand the next course of action which is planned by the Fadnavis Government. The Marathas require reservations given their socio-economic status in large areas of the State, but it is also a fact that the reservations have been capped at 52 per cent by the Constitution. How the Fadnavis Government will address the issue of the ceiling on the reservation is the most crucial questions, he said.
(With agency inputs)
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