The political battle over reservation in Maharashtra has taken a new turn. With the state government recently addressing the demands of the Maratha community, several other groups — including the Banjara and Dhangar communities — have now stepped up pressure, demanding inclusion under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

Growing Demands After Maratha Movement

Following the partial resolution of the Maratha reservation issue, various communities such as OBCs, Dhangars, Banjaras, and others classified under the ST and NT categories have begun voicing their demands more aggressively. This surge in demands is reshaping the political narrative around caste-based reservation in the state.

Banjara Community Seeks ST Inclusion

At a recent all-party meeting in Mumbai, leaders from the Banjara community cited historical records — particularly the Hyderabad Gazetteer, which categorizes Banjaras under the ST category — to back their claim for ST reservation. Minister Sanjay Rathod and several MLAs participated in the meeting, where community representatives announced that a formal report and memorandum of demands will soon be submitted to the state government.

Dhangar Community Issues Ultimatum

In Jalna, members of the Dhangar community submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis through District Collector Ashima Mittal. They demanded immediate implementation of ST reservation for their community. A warning was issued that if no action is taken soon, the community will begin a hunger strike outside the District Collector’s office in protest.

Maratha Kranti Morcha Sparks OBC Debate

Meanwhile, in Dharashiv, the Maratha Kranti Morcha has stirred controversy by demanding direct OBC reservation for the Maratha community — not via the Kunbi-Maratha route. State coordinator Sunil Nagne alleged that misleading tactics are being used to dilute Maratha identity.

“Giving Saraskat Kunbi certificates is not a long-term solution. We demand direct OBC reservation for Marathas, or it will be an injustice,” said Nagne.

He emphasized that only those with "Kunbi" recorded in their official documents should be granted reservation under that label, while those identified strictly as "Maratha" must not be excluded from the benefits.