Pune: ‘Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha’ slogan in Pravati segment to intensify battle

Pune: The road appears to be smoother for the BJP in the Parvati segment in the State poll as there are two rebels from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), who are likely to divide votes and make the path tough for the MVA candidate.

However, the Maratha community has started work at the ground level by raising the slogan ‘Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha’. Thus, the BJP candidate is not likely to have a cakewalk.

The Parvati seat was reserved earlier. Therefore, the open category candidate, including a Maratha, did not get an opportunity to contest poll from the segment. It was de-reserved in 2009. BJP-Shiv Sena candidate Madhuri Misal has been winning from here since then. The Maha Yuti has given her an opportunity for the fourth time. The future of the constituency depends on which areas will be removed from or added to the segment after the delimitation exercise in 2029.

Though the Maratha community is in a majority in the constituency, it has not got the representation in the past 35 years. Therefore, the community has united as it may have a last chance to send its members to the Assembly.

The Maratha quota agitation launched by Manoj Jarange Patil has boosted this sentiment. Earlier agitations launched for the cause seemed to help the BJP as the organisations sided with the saffron party. However, the current Maratha agitation led by Jarange Patil has directed its ire mainly against DyCM Devendra Fadnavis. This was evident during the Lok Sabha elections. Its heat is still felt in the State Assembly polls too.

Therefore, a Maratha candidate is likely to be supported by the community in Parvati. NCP (SP) rebel Sachin Taware started off his campaign with this equation in mind. However, Ashwini Kadam, the NCP (SP) candidate, is from a Maratha family. Taware is contesting as an independent. However, NCP (SP) leader Ankush Kakade declared that Taware had withdrawn from the contest and extended his support to Kadam.

In this backdrop, pro-Maratha quota leaders are trying to mobilise community members in the State poll, which will also help in the forthcoming civic elections. Thus, Maratha workers from all parties are likely to join hands in the near future.