Maharashtra government talks to Opposition on Maratha quota plan

Mumbai: Considering the constitutional challenges that might emerge while granting reservation to Marathas in education and jobs, the Maharashtra government has initiated informal backdoor discussions with all political parties. Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and other backward class (OBC) strongman Chhagan Bhujbal and discussed the possible fallout of granting reservation to the community.

Sources claimed that the state government is now trying to build consensus among all parties over the issue. Meanwhile, the Opposition has not budged on its dema-nd that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission report must be tabled in the legislature.

Thursday was the last working day for legislative business this week. As the Assembly was adjourned in the first hour itself amid calls for the tabling of the backward class commission report, Mr Patil called on the veteran NCP leader. This is being seen as the first sign of the state government acknowledging the serious legal hurdles in getting its Maratha reservation decision cleared by the court.

Sources claimed that Mr Patil discussed tabli-ng the report in the House as well as granting reservation to the Maratha community. Sources confirmed that Mr Bhujbal cautioned him about the fallout and also assured all help in within the bounds of the Constitution.

“The government thin-ks that if it tables the report in the House, there will be petitions in court based on the report. That would further complicate the issue and could also send wrong signals to the community. So, the government is trying to gauge the mood of the Opposition,” said a senior BJP leader and three-time MLA.

Interestingly, NCP leader Ajit Pawar helped the state government on Tuesday by saying that it could avoid tabling the report if it really thinks that doing so would lead to legal hurdles. Howev-er, Mr Pawar took a U-turn on Thursday and asked the state government to table the report immediately. This has put more pressure on the government.

“In next three days, Mr Patil will attempt talking to Con-gress and Sena leaders. He will see to it that when the House resumes on Monday, all political parties find common ground on the issue,” an NCP leader said.