Shadow of reservation looms over Maharashtra elections, is DMK formula scaring BJP?
Maharashtra Chunav / Shadow of reservation looms over Maharashtra elections, is DMK formula scaring BJP?
Maharashtra Chunav - Shadow of reservation looms over Maharashtra elections, is DMK formula scaring BJP?
Maharashtra Chunav: Maharashtra assembly elections are being held this time under the shadow of the controversial issue of reservation, where on one hand Maratha vs OBC and on the other hand Adivasi vs Dhangar disputes are affecting the political equations. The biggest challenge before the political parties is to maintain the caste balance, because there is a risk of displeasure of the other community by deciding in favor of one community.The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has the challenge of saving power, while the Congress-led India Alliance is adopting a strategy to take advantage of social equations. This alliance had achieved success by adopting the DMK formula in the Lok Sabha elections and is now betting on the same strategy in the assembly.The demand for reservation has intensified in Maharashtra for the last few years. The Maratha reservation movement took a statewide form, and it has worried the OBC community. The Dhangar community is also agitating for tribal status, while the tribal community is opposing it. This is causing deep changes in the caste politics of the state.In terms of caste equations, Maratha, OBC, Dalit, Muslim and Brahmin communities are prominent in Maharashtra. The Maratha community is the largest ethnic group in the state, accounting for about 30% of the population. The number of OBCs is between 38-40%. The BJP's main focus so far was the OBC vote bank, but its efforts to woo the Maratha community have weakened OBC support.The Congress has focused on the Maratha-Muslim-Dalit-Kunbi equation. The Congress has been in power in the state for a long time with the help of Maratha and Muslim votes, and is playing the same bet this time too. On the other hand, the BJP is trying to strengthen its position by emphasizing on the Hindutva and OBC agenda.It remains to be seen which party's caste equation proves effective in the assembly elections.