With the elections drawing closer, the demands for reservations from various caste and social groups could add to the woes of the Congress-NCP--led state government.
According to sources, the state backward classes commission has around 100 applications from various communities seeking backward class status pending before it.
The irony here is the dominant Maratha community, which control politics, co-operatives and educational institutions, demanding inclusion in the OBC (other backward class) category. And this has set alarm bells ringing among the other backward classes, who form around half the state's population. They fear being edged out by the powerful Marathas, leaders of Dhangar (shepherd) community, which has significant presence in western Maharashtra, want their community in the ST (scheduled tribes) list, instead of the present VJNT.
The Mehmood-ur-Rehman report that talks about the condition of Muslims in the state, has rekindled the demand for separate religion-based quotas for Muslims, even though Muslims enjoy OBC reservation benefits.
The Centre has already granted minority status to the Jains.
"The state government is clearly trying to cheat the Marathas before the polls. If just 10% of the Maratha voters turns their back, the government will be voted out," said NCP MLC Vinayak Mete, one of the leaders spearheading the agitation for quota for the community.
The Matang community, which has significant presence among the scheduled castes, has sought an eight per cent separate quota, as "they are unable to benefit from the present system where they have been bunched together with other castes." The Buddhist Dalits (the erstwhile Mahars, who converted to Buddhism along with Dr Ambedkar), are the lead group among the SCs.
Even the Brahmins, who top the Hindu caste pyramid, have sought seats from political parties in return for their support. "If tickets are distributed on the grounds of castes, the Brahmins must also get their quota," said Moreshwar Ghaisas Guruji of the Bahubhashak Brahmin Nyas.
"The tragedy here is that ruling parties have convinced people that backward class status is the panacea for all ills. Hence this clamour for reservations," said an OBC activist. And despite reservations in government jobs, there are few job opportunities in that sector, he added.
This is a reversal of eminent sociologist MN Srinivas' theory of Sanskritisation, wherein lower castes sought upward mobility. "This willingness to go a notch down in the (caste) hierarchy does not, however, indicate a change in the social positions. This is only a compromise for immediate benefits," he added, pointing to the intemperate statements being made by Maratha leaders against their OBC counterparts.
"Even the upper castes are demanding quotas. That is because, their leaders are unable to ensure their community's welfare in spite of political power, and hence are raising such demands to divert people's ire," said the activist.
"After the Mandal Commission recommendations were accepted, caste identities sharpened and transformed into political ambitions," said Surendra Jondhale, professor, department of civics and politics, University of Mumbai. This phenomenon had now spread to other lower and middle castes, and kindled their political ambitions, he added.
This only means one thing, that the benefits of political power and economic development have not percolated to all sections of the society, Jondhale summarised.
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