The demand for Muslim reservation has risen again in Maharashtra, is this an attempt to woo Muslim voters?

Mumbai:

There is a demand for Muslim reservation in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar’s NCP is demanding Muslim reservation. If seen in the Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar’s group party NCP contested on 4 seats, out of which it managed to win only 1 seat. In such a situation, the party is demanding Muslim reservation from the government in Maharashtra to woo the Muslim voters.

On the one hand, the fire of Maratha reservation is burning again. Manoj Zarange’s fast has started sweating political parties, on the other hand the demand for Muslim reservation has started. The NCP Ajit Pawar group, an ally of the ruling coalition Mahayutti, is now eyeing the government.

Ajit Pawar camp leader Salim Sarang, the party’s vice-president, has demanded jobs and education as well as political reservation for Muslims in Maharashtra on the lines of Andhra Pradesh’s Telugu Desam Party. Along with the demand, a warning has also been given to bring the movement to the streets.

He said, “If the N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party-TDP, now a BJP ally and key member of the NDA government, can announce 4% reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh, who is the Maharashtra government? Prevents us from implementing the 5% reservation for Muslims in education, which has already been passed by the High Court. No major party has fielded a single Muslim candidate. There is not a single Muslim MP from Maharashtra. There is not a single Muslim minister in the government. I will request Ajit Pawar, Shinde Devendra to take steps towards giving reservation to Muslims, otherwise Muslims will have to take to the streets.

Ajit Pawar himself admitted in a recent party meeting to assess the poor Lok Sabha results that Muslim voters have drifted away from him, so is this pre-assembly exercise an attempt to woo Muslim voters?

Umesh Patil, national spokesperson of Ajit Pawar faction NCP said, “This demand was made earlier, still today. There should be at least 5 percent reservation in education. This is our party’s stand.”

People associated with the Muslim community believe that the Muslim community unanimously went against the MoU, but if a decision is taken on reservation, the tables may turn in the next elections.

Zayed Khan, a social activist, said, “Muslims here came together and voted against the Mahayuti alliance, but if the decision had been taken on reservation, the result would have been different, it will have an impact on the upcoming elections. If a positive decision is taken regarding reservation, the Muslim community can definitely move towards allies like NCP, Shiv Sena.

Even after joining the Grand Alliance, the Ajit Pawar group took many decisions and made efforts to protect the economic rights, faith and interests of minorities, which seemed to fail in the Lok Sabha results. Now amid the Maratha reservation movement, the coalition government’s troubles are sure to increase due to the NCP’s demand.