Uddhav Thackeray Urges Marathas to Turn to PM Modi for Reservation Solution and Is Ready to Support Decision from Lok Sabha

On Tuesday, Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be careful when dealing with the issue of granting reservation status to the Maratha community under the Socially and Economically Backward Classes category. He stressed the need to protect the rights of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) while also addressing the needs of the Maratha community. Thackeray emphasized that a fair and balanced approach is crucial to ensure that all affected communities are treated equally and that their concerns are properly addressed.

In May 2021, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled against separate reservations for the Maratha community because it was beyond the limit of 50% as per law. On Monday, the Supreme Court chose not to block the Patna High Court’s decision to overturn the 65% caste-based reservation in Bihar. This move, along with the previous decision regarding Maratha reservations, highlights the Court’s commitment to upholding existing reservation limits.

At a press conference held at his residence, Matoshree, Uddhav Thackeray made it clear that state governments do not have the authority to grant reservations to the Marathas. The 50 percent reservation cap can be increased only by Parliament, he clarified, which is essential for the Maratha community to obtain such benefits. Thacker stated that if Lok Sabha could come up with a solution, he would support it. He asked Prime Minister Modi to take the initiative and said that he and all his MPs would lend their cooperation to Parliament’s feasible proposal.

Uddhav Thackeray revealed that he advised the Maratha community members who visited him to seek a meeting with Prime Minister Modi to discuss the 50% cap on reservations, emphasizing that only Parliament has the power to make such a change. He assured them that if Prime Minister Modi comes up with a solution and brings it to Parliament, his MPs would fully support it. Thackeray also noted that since PM Modi frequently talks about his modest origins, he should lead the effort to resolve the Maratha reservation issue. Thackeray emphasized his readiness to support any solution that emerges from these efforts.

Thackeray raised concerns as to why the current state government could not settle the Maratha reservation problem over the last two and a half years. He criticized the recent all-party meeting organized by the state government as a mere formality that was meant only to sound out the position of opposition parties. According to Thackeray, while it was necessary to invite politicians from all parties, it would have been better if people from different communities were included so that they could find a lasting solution to this problem suited to everyone’s needs. he highlighted that such an approach would be more effective in handling this particular issue

Former Union Minister and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhagwat Karad defended the OBC communities’ demand to keep their reservation share intact on Monday. He stated that the 10% quota provided to the Marathas by the State government would withstand legal scrutiny. As an OBC himself, Karad expressed his opposition to extending the OBC quota benefits to the Maratha community as well.

Thackeray has highlighted that diverse communities should come together and hold dialogue to address the problem of reservation. If a consensus is reached about extending reservation to the Marathas under the OBC quota, he assured he would support such a decision.