Anger simmers in Nanded Lok Sabha constituency over pending Maratha quota, Ashok Chavan’s defection

Residents of 55 villages in Nanded, Maharashtra, bar politicians' campaigning due to unfulfilled promises, focusing on Maratha reservation.

Residents of 55 villages in Ardhapur taluka, which comes under the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra, have put up posters ‘barring’ campaigning by politicians, especially from the ruling Mahayuti coalition, ahead of polling in the seat in the second phase on April 26.

Situated within a 30-km radius of the city, the villages are predominantly inhabited by members of the Maratha community, who have been taking out protests over the past year under the leadership of quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to push for their demand for reservation in government jobs and education.

“Despite pressure from the ruling coalition to attend rallies and campaign trails, we have collectively decided against it due to the government’s failure to fulfil its promise of providing reservation to Marathas,” said Vittal Kalyankar from Pimpalgaon. He adds that the community is not opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi but is aggrieved with the Mahayuti and the incumbent MP, Prataprao Chikhalikar Patil of the BJP.

“In the villages, we live in harmony. Even people from other communities are supporting reservation for Marathas. Our fight is not against any community but for the welfare of our future generations. We’re not opposed to PM Modi at the Centre, but the local leadership of the Mahayuti and the incumbent MP,” Mr. Kalyankar said.

A distance away at Shelgaon, over 3,000 voters took a pledge at Atmaram Maharaj temple not to support any politician until their issues are addressed. “We’ll participate in the polls, but we won’t support the candidate or party that deceived us,” said Devrao Uttamrao Rajegore.

Gathered near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in the village, Mr. Rajegore and a group of men point out a muddy road. “Do you see that road? It gets flooded during the monsoon. Despite being just 10 km from Nanded, there’s zero development here,” he said.

“Our protest is not only over Maratha reservation, but other equally pressing issues,” said village elder Naresh Puyod. Water scarcity, MSP for crops, impact of GST, inflation, unemployment, and the defection of two-time CM and Congress leader Ashok Chavan to the BJP are the major talking points in the seat.