Why all Maharashtra parties are chasing Manoj Jarange Patil as elections near

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil

Until last August, Manoj Jarange Patil was a relatively unknown figure in Maharashtra politics. Today, however, he is a force that the incumbent politicians of Maharashtra both fear and seek to placate. Jarange Patil's influence over electoral outcomes became evident during the last Lok Sabha elections, particularly in the Marathwada region, where many Mahayuti candidates faced defeat. He has since emerged as the prominent face of the movement demanding Maratha reservation in jobs and education.

The call for Maratha reservation gained momentum during Devendra Fadnavis' first tenure as Chief Minister, with the Maratha Kranti Morcha organizing silent marches across major cities in Maharashtra. The agitation turned violent in 2018 after a string of suicides by Maratha youth. Until then, the movement lacked a clear leader. This changed in August 2023, when Manoj Jarange Patil, a farmer from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna, began a hunger strike. As his health deteriorated, the Eknath Shinde government, alarmed, sent the police to end his fast. However, a violent clash ensued between the police and Jarange’s supporters, resulting in a lathicharge that left many protestors injured. This incident only amplified Jarange Patil’s popularity, catapulting him into the spotlight as the face of the Maratha movement.

Recognizing Jarange Patil's growing influence, the Shinde government was forced to negotiate with him, acknowledging his leadership role within the Maratha community. Since his initial fast, Jarange has staged five more hunger strikes, most ending after direct intervention from Chief Minister Shinde. In January, he announced plans for a long march to Mumbai but halted in Navi Mumbai after personal appeals from the CM.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been the primary target of Jarange Patil's verbal attacks. His aggressive anti-BJP campaign contributed to the defeat of several key Mahayuti candidates in the Lok Sabha elections, including BJP stalwart Pankaja Munde. Recently, Jarange Patil signaled his intent to campaign against the Mahayuti alliance in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, a stance the opposition MVA alliance has quietly sought to capitalize on, despite Jarange's public denying of any political affiliation.

Given Jarange Patil's ability to disrupt electoral prospects, leaders across party lines have been meeting with him, seeking either his support or asking him to refrain from campaigning against them. As parties finalize their seat-sharing arrangements, many hopeful candidates are reaching out to Jarange to bolster their case for securing party tickets.

In a notable development, AIMIM leader Imtiyaz Jaleel recently met with Jarange Patil. Earlier this year, Jaleel proposed that a Muslim-Maratha alliance could be a game-changer in the elections. In 2019, AIMIM had formed a Muslim-Dalit front with Prakash Ambedkar’s VBA, but with VBA no longer interested in the partnership, AIMIM is now exploring new alliances in Maharashtra.