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Journalism of Courage
Ahead of the upcoming local body polls, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) on Saturday launched ‘Mandal Yatra’ from Nagpur, recalling it was former Chief Minister and current party chief Sharad Pawar who implemented Mandal commission in the state extending reservation benefits to OBCs.
“The yatra will be taken across the state. It will address issues faced by OBCs, hold public rallies and focus on strengthening organisation of OBCs. Our aim is to create public opinion against the government over the issues such as condition of Maharashtra’s farmers, the issue of suicide, economic troubles faced by banks,” said Pawar.
The yatra will travel across all the districts of the state over the next two months. According to sources, one of the reasons cited by the party for its loss in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections was OBCs deserting the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. The yatra is also seen as the party’s bid to regain lost base.
When asked whether the party was specifically targeting OBC community, NCP (SP) state chief Shashikant Shinde said, “Our party is not limited to a particular caste or community. We work for all and address concerns raised by every community. The yatra is an attempt to address issues of OBCs and the party will keep on raising issues concerning every citizen of Maharashtra,” said Shinde.
NCP (SP) ally’s Congress too is currently attempting to focus on the OBC leadership. In its recently announced state executive committee, the party gave preference to OBC leadership.
Not only the opposition, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too attended a programme organised by OBC Mahasangh at Goa.
“I was targeted for speaking up for OBCs. Irrespective of how much I am targeted, I will keep speaking for the OBCs,” Fadnavis had said.
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