Maratha stir continues in Maharashtra as Opposition, Shiv Sena exert pressure on government

As violent protests continued in Maharashtra for the 8th consecutive day, political parties across the line have started to exert more pressure on the Devendra Fadnavis government.

While Opposition, Congress and NCP met the Governor with the demand for Maratha reservation, ally Shiv Sena, too, met the chief minister.

Meanwhile, one more MLA from Aurangabad district today submitted resignation to the Speakers Office.

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray mounted more pressure on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding him to immediately send a proposal to the Centre.

The Shiv Sena president had called a meeting of his party leaders at his residence Maatoshri. "Government says that they will call a special session of the legislature for Maratha reservation after getting the report from the backward commission. But they should not wait till then. Goverment should send a proposal to the Centre not only for Maratha reservation but any other community that is demanding reservation. We will support the stand both at the Centre and state," Uddhav told reporters after the meeting.

Shiv Sena Minister and MLAs met Fadnavis and conveyed him the party president's stand. On the other hand, Congress and NCP Legislators met Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao over Maratha reservation Issue.

Both the parties today held separate meetings in Mumbai over the issue. "The situation is going completely out of hand. State government should immediately call a special session of the legislature over Maratha reservation," demanded MPCC president and MP Ashok Chavan.

Chavan also took a dig at the Shiv Sena over its stand on the issue. "If Shiv Sena is serious about Maratha reservation issue, then they should withdraw the support from the government and join the Opposition," Chavan added.

Abdul Sattar, Congress MLA from Sillod constituency in Aurangabad district tendered his resignation in support of the Maratha reservation demand. Earlier, Shiv Sena MLA from Kannad (Aurangabad) Harashavardhan Jadhav and NCP MLA Bhausaheb Chikatgaonkar-Patil from Vaijapur Constituency from the same Aurangabad district, too, had submitted resignations for the same demand.

Meanwhile, violent protests over demand for Maratha reservation continued across parts of the state for the second consecutive week.

On Monday, six buses were set on fire by agitators near Pune, demanding reservation. Violent protests were also reported from Solapur.

The bandh call given by Maratha Kranti Morcha took a violent turn after protestors set tyres on fire on Solapur Tuljapur road. Protestors also pelted stones at cops, vandalising a police van in Shivaji Chowk area.

Two more suicides, allegedly over demands for reservation for Marathas were reported from different parts of the state. One person hung himself to death in Nanded while the other jumped in front of a train in Aurangabad. Kalasaheb Shinde a 28-year-old protestor had jumped to death in Aurangabad last week flaring up the agitation.