Cracks in Maratha agitation come to fore

Mumbai: ​The sudden suspension of Manoj Jarange Patil’s gruelling 20-day hunger strike has left Maharashtra’s political circles buzzing with intrigue and speculation. While Jarange claims he is merely taking two steps back to make a bigger move and giving the state government a 90-day ultimatum, the underlying reality appears to be heavily stained by deep-seated internal fault lines, shifting allegiances, and alleged political sponsorships.

The latest Maratha reservation buildup, which culminated in Jarange halting his Mumbai march at Patoda in the Beed district, seems to have fizzled out not merely due to governmental reassurances, but because of a fierce implosion within his own camp.

​Amol Khune, a former close confidant of Jarange and an erstwhile associate of the Shivba Sanghatana, has come forward to blow the lid off the underlying dynamics that led to the fiasco. In a sweeping revelation, Khune laid the blame squarely on the internal friction within the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. According to Khune, the entire agitation was orchestrated against the backdrop of a fierce power struggle between Shiv Sena leaders Abdul Sattar and Sanjay Shirsat. "Abdul Sattar wanted a ministerial post. To target others through this, Jarange Patil was given a contract," Khune sensationally claimed. He further asserted that an upcoming probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would unravel the extensive financial and logistical support that sustained the fortnight-long buildup.

"The ED inquiry will expose everything. It will reveal who supplied the logistics and how the money was distributed. Furthermore, no committee of ministers will come to pacify Jarange in his next agitation," Khune stated.

​Adding fuel to the fire, Dr. Sanjay Lakhe Patil, the state coordinator of the Maratha Kranti Morcha and another prominent voice from the community, convened a press conference to openly rebuke Jarange's changing stances. Lakhe Patil accused Jarange of hijacking a social movement for a political agenda, specifically to assassinate the character of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "Are they serious about pursuing the issues of the community or do they just want to play into the hands of politicians?" Lakhe Patil questioned, expressing severe doubt over Jarange's motives. He pointed out Jarange’s perceived softness towards BJP leaders like Chairperson of  abinet Sub Committee on Maratha Quota, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. "Jarange had previously lambasted Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil for destroying the Maratha community. How did his stance suddenly change? Was this agitation just to take a political contract to project Vikhe Patil?" Lakhe Patil asked, demanding accountability. He further warned Jarange, stating, "Speaking against Eknath Shinde will no longer be tolerated".

​This sudden fragmentation among key Maratha voices highlights a significant loss of integrity for the movement. Several OBC leaders have also jumped into the fray, openly questioning Jarange's credibility and the immense resources mobilised for his grand marches.