"If BJP Fails ...": Devendra Fadnavis Threatens To Retire Over OBC Quota

Devendra Fadnavis accused the Maharashtra government of misleading people by saying it will raise the issue of reservation for Other Backward Classes in the local bodies in Parliament.

Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis today said his party will restore reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies if given the power to, else, he will retire from politics. Addressing BJP workers during a protest held at Nagpur's Variety Square chowk as part of the BJP's "chakka jam" (block the traffic) agitation for the restoration of OBC quota, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly alleged the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is misleading people by saying that it will raise the issue in Parliament. "The fact is that this issue can be resolved at the state level. The state government can restore the reservation by formulating a law. There is no need for any Act of the Central government. That is why OBC reservation is prevalent in other states except in Maharashtra. You (MVA) will have to make a law. We will not stop until we expose their lie. This protest is held to condemn this government on the issue," he said. The Supreme Court had in its March 4 order said that reservation in favour of OBCs in local bodies in Maharashtra cannot exceed aggregate 50 per cent of the total seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and OBCs together.