Chhagan Bhujbal, a Maharashtra minister, recently revealed that he had resigned from the state cabinet in November. Bhujbal, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP, has accused the government of facilitating the inclusion of the Maratha community in the OBC quota. While he supports reservation for Marathas, he opposes the sharing of the existing OBC quota.
Speaking at a rally, Bhujbal addressed the calls for his resignation, stating that he had already tendered his resignation the day before attending the OBC Elgar rally held in Ambad on November 17. He explained that he had remained silent for over two months due to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister’s request.
Bhujbal emphasized that he voluntarily resigned and vowed to fight for the OBC cause till the end. His remarks come in response to demands for his resignation as Food and Civil Supplies minister, as he has been critical of the state government’s handling of the Maratha quota demand. Bhujbal had accused the government of appeasing Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange.
Furthermore, Bhujbal argued against including the Maratha quota within the OBC quota, suggesting a separate reservation for them. He also criticized the flawed process of collecting data to determine the Maratha community’s backwardness through a survey conducted by the state backward classes commission. Bhujbal claimed that despite OBCs constituting a significant portion of the state’s population, MLAs and MPs fear losing Maratha votes.
In response to Bhujbal’s statements, a Shiv Sena MLA from the Eknath Shinde camp called for his dismissal, accusing him of attempting to create social division. Bhujbal concluded by highlighting the lack of support from OBC MLAs, who allegedly do not contribute financially or participate in rallies.
Overall, Bhujbal’s disclosure of his resignation adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate surrounding the Maratha quota and its impact on the existing OBC quota in Maharashtra.
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