With the protests continuing unabated, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said his government was “committed to providing reservation to Marathas”. Marathas constitute 33 per cent of Maharashtra’s population and are the decisive political force in at least 75 of 288 Assembly seats. Other Dalit and OBC leaders have also supported reservation for Marathas, provided it does not curtail their existing quota. Apart from a bid to destabilise the Fadnavis government, observers feel, there is another reason the Maratha protests have Congress-NCP backing. Congress Dalit leaders also fear in private that the party would suffer the most in case of a Dalit-Maratha polarisation.

Source: Indian Express September 20, 2016 23:04 UTC