Maharashtra Minister Discusses Maratha Reservation Hunger Strike with CM

In Maharashtra, Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the hunger strike by activist Manoj Jarange, who is demanding 10% reservation for the Maratha community. Jarange's protest, ongoing at Azad Maidan, seeks recognition of Marathas as the Kunbi caste to secure educational and job reservations. A government delegation led by retired Judge Sandeep Shinde also engaged with Jarange, emphasizing the need for official recognition. The cabinet sub-committee, chaired by Vikhe Patil, is set to convene again to address these pressing issues.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 31, 2025, 12:20 IST

Minister's Meeting with Chief Minister

Late at night, Maharashtra's Water Resources Minister, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the ongoing hunger strike by activist Manoj Jarange in Mumbai, which is focused on the demand for Maratha reservation. Sources revealed this information on Sunday.

Vikhe Patil chairs a cabinet sub-committee formed to address the reservation demands of the Maratha community, along with their social, educational, and economic concerns.

Since Friday, Jarange has been on a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, advocating for a 10% reservation for the Maratha community. He is urging that the Marathas be recognized as the Kunbi agricultural caste within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to secure reservations in government jobs and education.

On Saturday, a delegation appointed by the government, led by retired High Court Judge Sandeep Shinde, met with Jarange. He has requested that the Marathas in Marathwada be granted Kunbi status.

Jarange has called for an official government order (GR) to be issued, stating that Kunbi and Maratha are one and the same. Justice Shinde is also the head of a committee tasked with examining the Kunbi records of the Maratha community.

To further discuss this issue, Vikhe Patil met with Chief Minister Fadnavis late Saturday night. According to sources, the meeting lasted for an hour and included senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan. The cabinet sub-committee led by Vikhe Patil is scheduled to meet again today.