Ready to hold special Assembly session to grant Maratha quota: CM Eknath Shinde

The report of the Maharashtra Commission for Backward Classes will be submitted in a month. After reviewing it, if needed, we will organise a special session of the legislature to offer reservation to the Maratha community, said Shinde.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government, if needed, would convene a special session of the legislature in February 2024 to discuss and give reservation to the Maratha community, said CM Eknath Shinde.

Shinde on Tuesday made the assurance in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Nagpur. However, Jalna-based Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil has made it clear that not even an extra hour would be given after the 24 December, 2023 deadline.

“We would call a special session if needed in February and give reservation to the Marathas,” Shinde said.

“We would give reservation to the Marathas. This is our commitment and we all are together on this. At the same time we need to ensure that it faces the test of law. Besides, we would like to reiterate that there would not be any dilution of the existing quota of other communities including the OBCs,” said Shinde replying to a debate on Maratha reservation.

"The (Justice Sandeep Shinde) Committee has submitted a report to the state government. The report of the Maharashtra Commission for Backward Classes (headed by Justice Sunil Shukre) will be submitted in one month. After reviewing it, if required, we will organise a special session of the legislature to offer reservation to the Maratha community," Shinde said.

The opposition, however, expressed disappointment over Shinde's reply and walked out of the House in protest.

Reacting to the development, Jarange-Patil said: “We have waited for a long time. The deadline ends on 24 December. After this not even an hour would be given. The government needs to give reservations before that.”