Three MLAs hold protest for Maratha quota outside Raj Bhavan

Three Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from Maharashtra, including two from the NCP's Ajit Pawar group, staged a protest outside the Raj Bhavan in South Mumbai on Tuesday. They demanded the convening of a special session of the state legislature to address the ongoing Maratha reservation issue.

Nilesh Lanke and Raju Navaghare, MLAs from the NCP (Ajit Pawar group), and opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Kailas Patil first sat near the Mahatma Gandhi statue adjacent to Mantralaya (state secretariat) and later held a protest outside the Raj Bhavan in support of quota demand.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lanke said, The Governor informed us that he has taken a review of the current situation in the state. We requested him to call a one-day session of the state legislature so that a bill awarding reservation to the the Maratha community in government jobs and education can be presented and passed.

Asked about Bais’s response to their demand for grant of quota to Marathas, he said, The Governor told us he would speak to the President regarding the issue. He also inquired about (violent) incidents (which occurred during the reservation stir) and the current situation in the state. The MLA said they will also meet Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to discuss the issue of reservation which has triggered a state-wide agitation by Maratha community members.

We also spoke to our leader Ajit Pawar after our meeting with the Governor. He invited us for a meeting at his official residence Devgiri in Mumbai. We will explain our stand over the issue to him, Lanke said.