Reservation for Muslims, Marathas in Maharashtra

Mumbai, 25 June, 2014

Though religon based reservation is unconstitutional and quota above 50% violates Supreme Court’s verdict, the poll bound Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra on Wednesday took a decision to provide 16% reservation to maratha and 5% to Muslim communities in jobs and education.

People doubt whether such quota decision will be approved by court if challenged!

Of the 11 crore plus population in the state, maratha constitutes 32% while Muslim community is 11%. The state cabinet chaired by the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan gave its consent for the quota to these communities which was strongly demanded by the Congress and NCP.

The 20 per cent reservation to maratha community and 5% to Muslim community will be over and above the 52 per cent reservation quota which currently exists for various communities in Maharashtra.

Both the Congress and NCP hope that the quota for maratha and Muslim will benefit them to regain the traditional vote bank and partially tackle Modi wave and anti incumbency in the coming assembly election slated for September-October. Pawar had released the NCP’s manifesto on April 7 and had promised reservations for Marathas and Muslims.

State industries minister Narayan Rane, who had headed the committee on maratha reservation, had recently announced that the government will take decision in this regard on June 21 after the code of conduct for the legislative council election will come to end.