Maharashtra govt's upcoming decision on Maratha quota won't disturb other sections, says Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Chandrashekhar Bawankule. File Pic

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday said a decision to be taken by the state government on Maratha reservation will be agreeable to activist Manoj Jarange and at the same time it won't affect other sections, reported news agency PTI.

Chandrashekhar Bawankule alleged the Maratha community lost the reservation due to former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's "incompetency", reported PTI.

Jarange, who had observed a hunger strike demanding reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education under the OBC category, has given the state government time till October 24 to take appropriate action, reported PTI.

"The state government will take such a decision on the reservation for Marathas that it will be agreeable to activist Manoj Jarange and at the same time it won't affect other sections," Bawankule told reporters.

He said decisions finalised during a meeting between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and representatives of people on the Maratha quota issue will be implemented accordingly, reported PTI.

Responding to a query, Bawankule said leaders of 'Mahayuti'- comprising ruling BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP (Ajit Pawar group) and 11 other constituents- will decide about sharing of seats for the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections, which will be vetted by the central parliamentary board of the BJP, reported PTI.

"We will work to ensure the victory of candidates irrespective of the seats they contest under Mahayuti," he added.

The BJP leader said Mahayuti is eying 51 per cent of vote share in elections and the victory of 225 MLAs and 45 MPs in Maharashtra, reported PTI.

He said there may be friendly fights in some cases (among Mahayuti members) during elections to local bodies, reported PTI.

Bawankule said the BJP is preparing a "Mahavijay 2024" plan wherein 600 "super warriors" of the party will reach 3,50,000 houses to explain the work done by the Modi government at the Centre in the last 9 years and various measures taken by the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state, reported PTI.

"I am confident that all the parties with us are working towards ensuring the victory under PM Modi's leadership.
Our only commitment is to defeat the candidates of the Maha Vikas Aghadi," the BJP leader added, reported PTI.

He said an overwhelming number of people he has interacted with during his tours want Modi to become prime minister for a third term, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)