Mumbai: Internal strife in Maharashtra govt alliance over Maratha reservation issue

Maharashtra Minister Sambhuraj Desai

A day after Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader (Ajit Pawar faction) Chhagan Bhujbal opposed Maratha reservation under the OBC category, Maharashtra Minister Sambhuraj Desai (Shinde faction) condemned Bhujbal's statement and said that "Bhujbal Saheb has done the work of creating a rumour".

"Bhujbal's statement regarding reservations is 100 percent wrong," Sambhuraj Desai said.

Speaking on the statement of Bhujbal, Desai said, "Chhagan Bhujbal should not make such statements. Chhagan Bhujbal's statement has created confusion in the minds of people in the state."

Desai emphasized that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had clearly stated there would be no revocation of existing reservations from any group to benefit another. He accused Bhujbal of making provocative statements to gain media attention and urged him to communicate any concerns about potential targeting of OBC leaders directly to the Home Minister instead of creating public confusion.

"Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has already clearly said that reservations will not be taken away from anyone and given to any other class. It is an old habit of Bhujbal to attract media attention by making provocative statements. If Bhujbal feels that OBC leaders will be targeted and attacked, then he should meet the Home Minister and give detailed information; he is a senior leader of the state," Desai said.

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Desai further mentioned plans to approach NCP leader Ajit Pawar to discuss Bhujbal's statement, intending to urge Pawar to advise his ministers against making such potentially divisive comments. "We will meet NCP leader Ajit Pawar regarding Chhagan Bhujbal's statement and will tell him that Ajit Pawar should explain to his ministers not to make any such statement, which may create confusion in the state."

Earlier, The Maharashtra Government handed over the Government resolution (GR) on the ongoing Maratha quota row to activist Manoj Jarange Patil. The resolution promises Maratha's reservation certificates under the Kunbi category. The state has also promised to file a review petition seeking to increase the upper limit of reservation in the Supreme Court. (With inputs from ANI)