Maratha community threatens to vote against BJP, Shiv Sena

Mumbai: Alleging that their demands had not been fulfilled, the organisation representing the Maratha community threatened to boycott or vote against the ruling Sena- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Leaders of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) in a meeting on Wednesday said that they would boycott or vote against the Sena-BJP if their demands were not met. They said that the state had enacted the bill providing 16 per cent quota in education and government jobs under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category. Recently however, the state issued a circular putting a break on giving appointment letters to candidates who had been selected for government jobs under the quota.

“The state government should immediately issue appointment letters to Maratha candidates, who have been selected under the SEBC category. The other 20 demands should also be approved before the code of conduct for Lok Sabha polls is announced. Otherwise, we will work against the government to show its place in the elections,” said Nanasaheb Jawale-Patil, state coordinator of the Maratha Kranti Morcha.

We will distribute five crore pamphlets appealing that Maratha community should not vote for the Sena-BJP combine, he added.

According to the MKM, the state had also assured them of withdrawing cases filed against more than 13,000 protesters by the police during the violence-marred stir for reservation. The state had also assured compensation and government jobs to the kin of protesters who committed suicide during the agitation. MKM convener Mahesh Dongre said that the Shiv Sena had prospered in the state as a political party only due to Maratha support. "The community will teach a lesson to the Sena by showing what the Marathas can do in the upcoming polls" he added.