Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Manoj Jarange-Patil makes U-turn on decision to contest polls

Mumbai: Springing a surprise, Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil on Monday withdrew from the make-or-break elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly - a move that is expected to benefit the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

After two months of repeated statements and planning for going to polls, Jarange-Patil made the political situation vis-a-vis Maratha reservation demand and OBC resistance - similar to the one existing during the Lok Sabha polls thus rattling the BJP-led Maha Yuti.

However, Jarange-Patil repeatedly clarified that it was not a U-turn and the decision was not taken under any pressure.

“We held meeting till 0330 hrs in the morning…ultimately it was decided not to contest the (Vidhan Sabha) elections….people may apply their own discretion…whom to defeat, whom to elect…but remember those who had worked against our cause,” Jarange-Patil, the founder of Shivba Sanghatana, told reporters in his village Antarwali Sarati in the Jalna district.

However, to a question, Jarange-Patil made it clear that the campaign involving the Maratha reservation demand would continue.

On Sunday, he shortlisted eight seats for contesting and half a dozen seats for attempting defeat of sitting MLAs, but in 24 hours changed the decision.

Jarange-Patil said that it was impossible to win elections depending on one community. “However, without the help of the Maratha community no one can win elections…I told the Maratha community that this is not our family business, we might be misled,” said Jarange-Patil.

Jarange-Patil also admitted that his other allies, comprising a motley of Muslims and Dalit communities did not submit their lists of candidates as another reason for his unexpected retreat.

Jarange-Patil also stated neither will not extend support to any Independent candidate or political parties, nor would direct the Maratha community to defeat candidates. “I do not want to direct the Maratha community to defeat any candidates… The community has to take a decision in this regard,” he said.

Jarange-Patil’s decision to withdraw from the election is likely to benefit the MVA comprising Congress, Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) as it would prevent the division of anti-BJP votes.

The Maratha votes were widely seen as a key factor behind the BJP-led NDA’s poor show in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, where the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc gained significantly.

In the past, Jarange-Patil were approached by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi founder Prakash Ambedkar and Parivartan Mahashakti - which includes Swaraj founder Yuvraj Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati, a descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Bacchu Kadu, the founder of Prahar Janshakti and Raju Shetti of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, however, it did not materialise.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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