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Jarange had announced in August this year that he was compelled to enter politics in order to get Maratha reservation.
Manoj Jarange (PTI Image)
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, who had previously announced to enter the poll fray, has declared that he would not contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections slated this month and asked his candidates to withdraw nominations.
While addressing a press conference on Monday, he appealed to his candidates to pull out of the race. “We can’t fight election only on Maratha issues,” he said.
Notably, today is the last date for the withdrawal of nominations for the Maharashtra polls.
Jarange political entry
On August 6, Jarange had said that the Maratha community was left with no other option than to enter politics and get Maratha reservation. He had then expressed confidence that they would come to power in the state. Denying any desire to enter politics, he had said that he was compelled to do so due to the necessity to secure Maratha reservation.
“We have no option but to enter politics and come to power if we want to get reservation for the Maratha community,” Jarange had stated.
In February, the Maharashtra legislature passed a bill providing 10 per cent reservation to the Marathas, who comprise more than 30 per cent of the state’s population, in education and government jobs under a separate category.
However, Maratha community members led by Jarange insisted on the influential caste’s inclusion in the OBC category. Since August last year, the activist has launched multiple rounds of hunger strikes in support of the Maratha quota.
Maharashtra will go to Assembly polls in a single phase on November 20. The counting of votes will be done on November 23.
