For seven days, Marathas braved the odds amid biting cold, vowed not to return home without getting reservation

Why did the government take six days to accept the demands raised by Jarange-Patil when it could have done so on or before January 20 when the Maratha Reservation Morcha started from Antarwali-Saraati village in Jalna?

Supporters of Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil celebrate after the Maharashtra government accepted his demands, in Navi Mumbai, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. (PTI Photo)

For seven days, lakhs of Maratha community members braved the biting cold, struggled for food and water and slept wherever they could find some space. But they never gave up their fight, with activist Manoj Jarange-Patil leading from the front and vowing not to return home without getting reservation. They travelled for 400 kilometres en route, halting for a while at hundreds of places, where Jarange-Patil was given a rousing reception.

Their fight ultimately has “paid dividends” as the state government on Saturday issued a resolution accepting their demands. On the seventh day, the government woke up to act and bring a happy end to the ardous fight of the Marathas.

But the question that has rankled everyone in Maharashtra is as to why did the government take six days to accept the demands raised by Jarange-Patil when it could have done so on or before January 20 when the Maratha Reservation Morcha started from Antarwali-Saraati village in Jalna? Different quarters have different takes about the six days which inconvenienced hundreds of citizens in different districts as the morcha rolled on, affecting vehicular traffic.

Political Pulse | Shinde and BJP placate Marathas on quota issue but OBCs left unhappy, talk of protests

Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said the Shinde-Fadnavis government was under internal pressure not to concede the demands of the Maratha community. “There was pressure due to the opposition from OBC community. And there was pressure from Delhi as well. The Centre apparently did not want the Maharashtra government to concede the demands of Maratha community as it would mean its applicability across the country. And therefore, the government was not able to decide,” he said.

Describing it as an election ruse, Chavan said, “It is a finally a political decision taken by keeping in view the ensuing election. The government wants to encash on the sentiments related to the reservation of the Maratha community.”

Vinod Patil, one of the key coordinators of Maratha Kranti Morcha, said, “The government has been dilly-dallying right from day one. It is only after more than four months of agitation by the Maratha community that the government has accepted all demands. They could have done it earlier but for some reason, kept delaying it. Even now, the government should come out with more clarity which will help the community understand the whole reservation initiative,” he said.

Explained | As Maharashtra CM assures quota to Marathas, why OBCs are planning to take to streets and courts

Vijay Tarak, who is part of Jarange-Patil’s team from Antarwali-Saraati village, said, “The moment the government announced that it was accepting the demands raised by Jarange-Patil, there was wild celebration in our village. Crackers were burst and sweets were distributed. This is the first time in four months we have had a strong reason to celebrate with gusto.”

Story continues below this ad

Tarak said the government was probably thinking that Jarange-Patil led morcha will have no impact on them and on Maharashtra. “The government probably never imagined that the morcha would be this big and therefore it took six days to act and act decisively,” he said.

B G Kolse-Patil, former retired high court judge, said, “I think the government took its time for the sake of the OBC community. The government wanted to tell the OBC community that it had no option as the Maratha Reservation Morcha threatened to disrupt life. The government does not want to lose the OBC community which has sizeable presence like the Maratha community.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Loading Taboola...