Jarange-Patil’s decision to withdraw from polls will help MVA, says Cong leader

Deshmukh, who is the Congress candidate from Latur Rural seat, said, “It would be wrong to view Jarange-Patil as a leader of one community, instead what he says applies to all communities dependent on agriculture in the state,” he said. “Farmers of this region are more vulnerable to drought, which happens once every four years,” he said.

The agrarian crisis, particularly soyabean selling below Minimum Support Price (MSP), along with absence of job opportunities and new industries allegedly going to Gujarat are going to be major issues this election.

Jarange-Patil and his movement, Deshmukh said, would have the maximum effect in the Marathwada region. “The Anna Hazare movement in Delhi and its effect could be seen in the rise of AAP in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana. Similar sentiments would be reflected in Marathwada given this was the epicentre of the Jarange-Patil movement,” he said.

Asked if the movement, which was based on the demand to include the Maratha community in the OBC category, would see consolidation of non-Maratha castes, Deshmukh replied in the negative. “All questions must not be reduced to caste,” he said.

Jarange-Patil, whose agitation for inclusion of Maratha community in the OBC category has seen widespread support, has decided to go back on his earlier decision to field candidates for the Assembly elections. His decision has been welcomed by both MVA and Mahayuti.

Rebellions by candidates have posed serious problems in many seats but Deshmukh said voters prefer candidates from the main parties. Deshmukh said the Congress has made Sachin Pilot the in-charge of Marathwada. “Each constituency is unique and we are going to the voters by taking into consideration the local issues,” he said.