Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar faces backlash over remark against Marathas at rally in Jalna

Babanrao Lonikar's remark at a rally in the Partur assembly constituency in Jalna on November 12 has invited the ire of quota activist Manoj Jarange, who criticised him for underestimating the community's strength.

Jalna: BJP MLA and former Maharashtra minister Babanrao Lonikar is under fire from the Marathas over his alleged remark during an election rally that the community's strength can be "counted on fingers".

Lonikar's remark at a rally in the Partur assembly constituency in Jalna on November 12 has invited the ire of quota activist Manoj Jarange, who criticised him for underestimating the community's strength.

The Partur assembly constituency will see a three-way fight between BJP's three-time MLA Lonikar, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Asaram Borade, and Congress rebel Suresh Jethliya, who is running as an independent, in the November 20 state polls.

Jalna has been the epicentre of the Maratha quota stir and has witnessed massive protests by the community led by Jarange demanding reservation in education and government jobs.

Lonikar, during his rally in Ashti village, allegedly said the Maratha community's strength could be "counted on fingers".

A video of his speech has been circulated on social media, sparking backlash from Maratha activists and leaders.

Accusing the BJP leader of underestimating the community's strength, Jarange on Wednesday warned, "The Marathas will give a befitting reply for such remarks in the elections." A local Maratha activist said the community, which constitutes 32 per cent of the constituency's population, would rally behind Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Borade as he is a Maratha.

While Lonikar is hoping to retain the seat for the saffron party, Congress rebel Jethliya is banking on support from minority, Dalit, and OBC voters.

Jethliya, who was elected as an independent in 2009, contested unsuccessfully on a Congress ticket in 2014 and 2019. After being denied a Congress ticket this year, he has chosen to contest as an independent.

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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