After months of flip-flop, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil Sunday announced that he will field candidates from the community for the Maharashtra Assembly polls in constituencies where there is a chance of winning.
“We will field candidates where we are confident of winning,” Jarange told his supporters at his village Antarwali-Saraati in Jalna district.
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Jarange Patil said there are at least 36 constituencies in the state where the Maratha community has a dominate presence.
“We should field candidates in constituencies where we have a chance of winning. At other places, we should take a stand to defeat those against the Maratha reservation,” he said.
The quota activist said that he will not field candidates in seats reserved for SC and ST candidates. “However, in those constituencies, Marathas should support those who backed our reservation demand…,” he said.
Jarange warned Maratha community not to take things lightly. “We will have to take a different stand because they (the government) want to finish us off. Let us not remain negligent. If we are defeated, we will find it difficult to see each other’s face,’” he said.
Jarange accused the the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi of not taking a clear stand on the Maratha quota. “Their list is pending at Delhi durbar. They are awaiting for us to take the decision…I f we field candidates, BJP will be happy. If we don’t field candidates, MVA will be happy… Both have not spoken clearly about Maratha reservation.”
He added that in every constituency, there are at least one lakh Marathas.
“If we field candidates and they are defeated, then what will happen to our agitation… Stop talking to leaders and parties. Keep our community in mind,” he told his supporters.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil. (Express Photo) 
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