Maratha entry into OBC political quota reshapes local body polls in Maharashtra

Following the implementation of political reservation to the Maratha community under the OBC category in Maharashtra, there has been a noticeable rise in Maratha candidates contesting elections using Kunbi caste certificates.

The demand for OBC reservation for Marathas through Kunbi recognition was led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, whose movement gained momentum last year. Large-scale protests were held in Mumbai in August and September 2025, increasing pressure on the state government.

In September, the Maharashtra government issued a Government Resolution extending OBC reservation benefits to the Maratha community in education, government jobs and local body elections. The move followed the formation of the Shinde Committee during the tenure of then chief minister Eknath Shinde.

Based on the committee’s recommendations, a new GR on OBC reservation was issued on September 2, 2025. The period saw heightened social and political tensions between Maratha and OBC groups, the impact of which became evident in recent municipal corporation elections.

In the Pune Municipal Corporation, 44 of the 165 seats were reserved for OBCs. Kunbi candidates contested these seats under the OBC quota, with 26 elected as corporators. Of these, 17 belonged to the BJP and nine to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). However, caste validity certificates of 12 of the 26 elected corporators are still pending. Several candidates had obtained Kunbi certificates well before the elections, while others filed nominations under the OBC category soon after ward-level reservations were announced close to the polls.

A similar pattern was seen in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, where 34 of 128 seats were reserved for OBCs. Kunbi candidates contested 26 of these seats and won all of them. Among those elected were 17 BJP members, seven from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction and two from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Caste validity verification of 13 corporators remains pending. One elected corporator declared assets worth Rs 370 crore, while 11 others reported movable and immovable assets exceeding Rs 11 crore.

Leaders of the Maratha agitation had repeatedly said reservation benefits should primarily help economically weaker sections of the community through better access to education, jobs and political representation. However, asset disclosures of OBC-category corporators elected in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have raised questions. None of the 26 OBC corporators elected in Pune declared assets below Rs 1.5 crore, while 14 corporators in Pimpri-Chinchwad reported wealth exceeding Rs 10 crore.

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