Manoj Jarange withdrew from the elections
Manoj Jarange Patil, who rose to fame by leading the Maratha movement, was preparing for the assembly elections for the last few months, but has now refrained from contesting the elections. He has decided not to field any candidate in the elections, following which Manoj Jarange’s supporters have withdrawn their names. Jarange did not abandon the electoral field like this, but rather made the decision following a well-thought-out strategy. Manoj Jarange Patil Will the BJP-led NDA ruin the alliance’s game in the Maharashtra Assembly elections with the Lok Sabha election formula?
Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil, considered the X factor in Maharashtra, has distanced himself from the elections. The leaders who had filed election nominations in the name of the Maratha movement have withdrawn their names. Jarange Patil said that we cannot participate in elections based on the strength of a society. We had asked for the list of candidates from the leaders of the Muslim and Dalit communities, but we could not get it, so we will not field candidates in the elections. In such a situation, the Maratha community itself will decide who to defeat and who to elect. He said I have no connection or support with any candidate or political party.
Why did Jarange take a step back?
Manoj Jarange Patil has taken a very thoughtful step. Manoj Jarange has taken the decision considering the urgency of the situation, because the contest is between Mahayuti vs Maha Vikas Aghadi. In such a situation, if their candidates lose all the seats, there will be shame among the Maratha community and the reservation issue will remain a political issue. Apart from this, there was a danger of fragmentation of Maratha votes due to their participation in the elections, so Jarange’s strategy seemed completely ruined. This is why Sharad Pawar welcomed Jarange’s decision to stop contesting the elections and is seen as increasing political tension for the BJP alliance.
BJP suffered setback in Marathwada
The leader of the Maratha movement, Manoj Jarange, hails from the Marathwada region and a large number of his followers are from the Maratha community. Manoj Jarange’s participation in the elections would have had a huge impact in the Marathwada belt. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the biggest political blow to the BJP and Shinde in Maharashtra came in the Marathwada belt, where the party had to suffer losses due to opposition from Manoj Jarange. The NDA had lost 7 of the 8 Lok Sabha seats in Marathwada. Not only this, its effect was also visible in Yavatmal of Vidarbha, adjacent to Marathwada and Solapur, Ahmednagar and Madha Lok Sabha constituencies of western Maharashtra and the BJP also had to face defeat there.
What did Sharad Pawar say?
The anger of the Maratha community was also supported by the Dalit and Muslim communities. This vote bank was responsible for Mahayuti’s defeat. Due to the presence of Jarange candidates in the electoral fray, there was a possibility of fragmentation of Maratha votes. Due to this, Mahavikas Aghadi was facing direct losses and NDA was making profits. Therefore, Sharad Pawar has also expressed his happiness over Manoj Jarange Patil’s decision not to contest the elections. He said Mahavikas Aghadi has nothing to do with keeping distance from Jarange Patil’s election. I am happy that you made this decision. If they had fielded candidates, it is clear that the BJP would have benefited, so the decision they took is the right one for us.
Big blow for the BJP
There are 46 assembly seats in Marathwada region and 70 seats in western Maharashtra. Manoj Jarange is considered to have a significant influence in both areas and the Maratha vote plays a decisive role. In the last assembly elections, the BJP did better in the Marathwada region, while in western Maharashtra the results favored the NCP. Similarly, the BJP had fared better in Vidarbha. Manoj Jarange’s withdrawal from the electoral field is being seen as a major political blow to the BJP and Shinde. From the NCP to the Congress to the Shiv Sena alliance, this is nothing less than a political lifeline.
In the Lok Sabha elections, due to the campaign to change the Constitution along with the Maratha community and target the Muslim community, all three communities supported Mahavikas Aghadi. This time, due to the BJP leaders’ rhetoric against the Muslim community, the pattern is expected to repeat itself here. In such a situation, Manoj Jarange Patil’s decision not to participate in the elections can cause great harm to Mahayuti, because due to Manoj Jarange’s decision not to participate in the elections, the Maratha community can collectively go with Maha Vikas Aghadi.
