Pune: In an ongoing saga of dissent, lecturer Namdev Jadhav has once again lashed out at Sharad Pawar, the veteran leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), accusing him of longstanding opposition to Maratha reservation. Jadhav's criticism comes amidst escalating tensions, marked by an incident where NCP workers in Pune allegedly blackened Jadhav's face.
Jadhav's latest salvo against Pawar underscores his claim that the NCP stalwart has consistently thwarted efforts for Maratha reservation, thereby exacerbating societal divides. According to Jadhav, Pawar's political career spanning five decades has seen a conspicuous absence of support for the Maratha community's demand for reservation, which has deepened socio-political fault lines.
Speaking at a press conference in Pune, Jadhav announced plans for a march to Pawar's residence in Baramati on March 23, signaling a heightened level of opposition to Pawar's stance on the issue. Jadhav's ire extends beyond the reservation issue, alleging Pawar's involvement in exacerbating internal party conflicts, notably referencing the recent dispute involving Manoj Jarange Patil's advocacy for Maratha reservation.
Critics have pointed to Pawar's four-time tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, questioning why decisive action on Maratha reservation was not taken during his leadership. Jadhav accuses Pawar of not only neglecting the Maratha community's demands but also of actively misleading them.
The escalating confrontation between Jadhav and Pawar underscores deep-seated grievances within Maharashtra's political landscape, with Maratha reservation emerging as a focal point of contention. As Jadhav continues to mobilize support against Pawar's perceived opposition, the political ramifications of this clash are likely to reverberate across the state.