Nana Patole slams Deputy CM Fadnavis over quota issue, condemns suicide over Maratha reservation

Nana Patole. File Pic

Nana Patole, Maharashtra Congress chief, launched a scathing attack on Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the contentious issue of quotas, particularly pertaining to the Maratha community and Other Backward Classes. Patole, on Thursday, also urged the public not to resort to extreme measures like suicide as a form of protest.

Patole's critique came in the wake of a tragic incident where a Maratha quota activist from Jalna allegedly took his own life in Bandra, Mumbai, early in the day. Sunil Kawale, a resident of Chikangaon in Ambad tehsil of Jalna district, was discovered hanging from pole number 4 of a flyover between Bandra and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in the western part of the metropolis. A note found nearby expressed the need for quota reservations for Marathas and called on community members to gather in Mumbai on October 24 to advance their cause.

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Expressing his displeasure with the state government, Patole remarked, "Devendra Fadnavis takes one stand in front of the OBCs and says something else in front of the Maratha community. The Bharatiya Janata Party does not want to grant reservations to anyone. It aims to eliminate all quotas. Only the Congress can resolve the reservation issue."

Patole, according to the report, considered Kawale's demise to be profoundly sorrowful and unfortunate. He emphasized that individuals should refrain from taking extreme measures like suicide to address quota-related concerns. Furthermore, he criticized the BJP for making what he perceived as empty promises about reservations despite being in power both at the national and state levels. To solve the quota issue, Patole asserted that the 50 per cent reservation ceiling needed to be lifted, and he strongly advocated for a caste census.

Turning his attention to the arrest of alleged drug peddler Lalit Patil, who had fled from a Pune hospital following a significant mephedrone drug bust, Patole raised questions about the government's responsiveness. He questioned why Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, had not initiated an investigation into the case earlier and called for a thorough probe to identify the true mastermind behind the drug trade, the report read.

When asked about seat allocation for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls among the Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents, which include Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, and Shiv Sena, Patole mentioned that discussions on this issue had not taken place yet. While there appears to be no internal dispute within the MVA, the ruling alliance (Mahayuti) faces contention over the allocation of Lok Sabha seats. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, in particular, is seeking a substantial share of 17-18 Lok Sabha seats.

Patole, as per the PTI report, noted that the Congress is currently focusing on Assembly elections in five states: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. These elections are scheduled for November, with vote counting on December 3. The discussion on Lok Sabha seat allocation within the MVA will take place at an appropriate time, according to the state Congress president.