Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil has appealed to Marathas to vote against those who oppose Maratha reservation and ‘sage-soyare’ in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He stressed the need for unity and vigilance, emphasizing that people know who has supported and worked against the community. Patil also expressed disappointment over the government’s delay in implementing the draft notification on ‘sage-soyare’ inclusion and vowed to continue protests after the polls.
Voting for three Marathwada regions – Nanded, Hingoli, and Parbhani – will take place on April 26. The Maratha vote bank plays a dominant role in these constituencies, but is currently in a state of dissatisfaction due to unresolved reservation issues and agricultural losses. Maratha representatives stress the need for reservation to provide affordable education, access to government jobs, and support for the community’s agricultural livelihood.
A unique contest is unfolding in the Hingoli parliamentary constituency, where every candidate has a connection to the Shiv Sena. Hemant Patil, originally slated to represent the Shiv Sena (UBT), was replaced by Baburao Kadam Kohalikar after opposition from the local BJP. Kohalikar faces Nagesh Patil Ashtikar of the Shiv Sena (UBT), both belonging to the dominant Maratha community. The Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) has fielded Dr. D B Chavan, a former Shiv Sena candidate, hoping to sway Dalit and Muslim voters and impact the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
