Manoj Jarange, a quota activist and the face of Maratha movement, on Monday shifted the strategy by announcing that he will support no candidate or party. He also requested his workers who had filed their nominations in the constituencies to withdraw from the contest.
This Monday was the last day when nominations could be withdrawn ahead of the November 20 poll for the Maharashtra state assemblies and vote counting on November 23.
After hours of deliberation, Jarange's decision not to participate in elections has been a complete reversal from his earlier stand when he was willing to support or oppose candidates in some constituencies. From the village of Antarwali Sarathi, Jarange said, "After much deliberation, I have decided not to field any candidate in the state. The Maratha community will decide on its own whom to defeat and whom to elect.". He claimed he has no affiliation to or support for any candidate or political party. He stressed that neither the ruling Mahayuti nor the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) put pressure on him.
"I am under no pressure from anyone. The community itself will decide whom to support based on their commitment to the Maratha cause," he added, urging voters to ask candidates seeking their support to commit to it in writing or video.
Jarange said his allies, who had initially planned to contest with his support, did not present their list of nominees. "They came yesterday and said they will send their list by 6-7 pm (on Sunday), but the list did not reach. We were about to contest 14 seats and a decision was pending on 11 seats. We cannot win elections on the votes of one single community (Maratha), he said, indicating they had no choice but to withdraw from the electoral race.
Politically in-experienced, Jarange urged candidates to withdraw their nomination, reiterating his protest for the Maratha quota agitation. He said, "We don't have long experience of politics. I appeal to the candidates to withdraw their forms. Our agitation (for Maratha quota) will continue after elections."
Jarange clarified saying that he had no other intention than to let individuals make their own choice adding, "no one is of use to us.". When asked which constituencies he had imagined he would contest some of these candidates, he replied: "The Maratha community should support those who will give us a video that the candidate stands by our demands for Maratha quota." A confident Jarange stated, "No one can be elected in this state without the support of Marathas," and called upon Marathas not to attend political rallies, nor be influenced by any political party.
Those who have wronged or harassed the Maratha community should be taught a lesson through the ballot," he said.
He again mentioned pursuing reservation for the Maratha community under the OBC category, saying his quota fight would not come to an end.
On Sunday, Jarange said he would support two candidates in the Parvati and Daund constituencies but promised to name them later. Both the seats are currently held by BJP representatives, a party that he has often criticized for opposing Maratha reservations.
The leaders said earlier that the sitting MLAs and previous candidates of the Mahayuti government in Bhokardan (Jalna), Gangapur, Kannad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Kalamnuri (Hingoli), Pathari (Parbhani), Gangakhed, Jintur also from Parbhani district and Ausa in Latur district will be given 'party tickets' - opposition during polls.
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