Hunger Games

As the Maharashtra Assembly election looms large, Manoj Jarange-Patil, the face of the Maratha quota movement, has once again thrust himself into the political spotlight. His indefinite hunger strikes have become a recurring motif in Maharashtra’s political theatre, each one apparently resonating with the aspirations and frustrations of the Maratha community.

The Maratha quota conundrum is compelling the Eknath Shinde-led government to scramble for solutions in a bid balance the need to appease the Maratha community with the technical challenges of implementing a constitutionally sound quota.

Since August last year, Jarange-Patil has taken on the mantle in an almost messianic style of aggressively seeking reservations in education and government jobs for the Maratha community, which constitutes a significant portion of the state’s populace. His hunger strikes have kept the issue alive in the public eye, whilst increasing the discomfiture of the ruling Mahayuti.

Emboldened with each hunger strike and the Mahayuti’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha election, Jarange-Patil has signalled his intention to influence candidate selection across all segments. His promise to prop up candidates in all 288 Assembly segments has meant a shift from grassroots activism to overt political involvement. But as he sits on the fence between the fields of advocacy and electoral strategy, the pressing question remains which political camp does he ultimately align with - the ruling Mahayuti alliance or the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA)?

This raises the larger question of whether Jarange-Patil is a genuine advocate for the Maratha cause, or merely a pawn in a larger political chess match?

Jarange-Patil’s detractors have long alleged his ‘ties’ to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, the architect of the MVA. Critics of the activist have accused the activist of playing a dual game, using his protests as a platform for personal ambition while aligning himself with established political players, casting doubt on the sincerity of his advocacy.

Despite the release of a film detailing his exploits and seemingly selfless devotion to the Maratha quota, many former allies within the reservation agitation movement have lambasted Jarange-Patil for exploiting the emotions of his followers and the Maratha community for personal gain.

Moreover, Jarange-Patil’s aggressive rhetoric, which initially went unchallenged, has increasingly been met with counterprotests from the OBC community, a significant vote bank for the ruling BJP in Maharashtra. Feeling threatened by Maratha demands, OBC leaders have organized their own demonstrations, arguing that Jarange-Patil’s push for OBC status undermines their hard-won rights. As for Jarange-Patil, while he has made himself relevant with his latest hunger strike, he needs to emerge from the shadows and declare which side he is on. Aligning with the MVA may offer short-term gains, but it could dilute his narrative as a champion of Maratha rights, potentially framing him as a pawn in a broader political struggle.