Maratha Activist Manoj Jarange Patil Urges Awareness, Questions Opponents of Reservation in Western Maharashtra

Manoj Jarange Patil has called for greater awareness among the Maratha community in Western Maharashtra and challenged those opposing the reservation demand, saying critics must be clearly understood as part of the broader socio‑political contest around quota rights.

Solapur|February 12, 2026: In a statement from Solapur, Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil emphasised the need for increased consciousness and unity within the Maratha community in Western Maharashtra, urging people to recognise who is genuinely opposing their demand for reservation. Jarange Patil, who has been central to the Maratha quota agitation calling for inclusion under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, stressed that awareness must deepen among community members, especially where there is political resistance to reservation benefits.

Addressing supporters and followers, Jarange Patil noted that opponents of the reservation cause must be identified and understood in context, and insisted that the community’s interests should not be diluted by political maneuvering. He also highlighted the close social ties between the Maratha and Kunbi communities, asserting that in some regions including parts of Western Maharashtra and Vidarbha Kunbi votes have been significant in election outcomes, and linked this to the broader push for reservation rights.

The remarks come as Maharashtra continues to navigate the complex aftermath of prolonged protests and negotiations around Maratha reservation. Activists like Jarange Patil have previously led significant marches and hunger strikes advocating for Kunbi caste certificates to be extended to Marathas to unlock reservation benefits in education and government employment, a demand that gained traction after the state government’s issuance of the Hyderabad Gazette resolution and subsequent follow‑ups.

While supporters see Jarange Patil’s call for heightened awareness as a rallying point to consolidate support in Western Maharashtra, critics of extending the OBC quota to Marathas including some OBC leaders have argued that such inclusion could be unfair to existing backward communities due to limited reservation quotas.

With the reservation debate still a focal issue in state politics, Jarange Patil’s appeal for community unity and clarity on opponents is likely to shape discussions in the run‑up to future political contests and policy decisions.

Follow us On Our Social media Handles :
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter

Also Read- Pune