The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), drawing lessons from its successful caste strategy in Haryana, has unveiled its candidate list for the Maharashtra assembly elections, focusing on balancing Maratha and OBC representation. The move is seen as a response to voter polarization triggered by Maratha reservation protests, led by activist Manoj Jarange.
Top BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, both OBC faces, have been given tickets, reinforcing the party’s outreach to OBC voters. At the same time, prominent Maratha names like Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and the families of Raosaheb Danve and Ashok Chavan have been included to rebuild support within the Maratha community.
A senior BJP leader acknowledged that the “Jarange factor” impacted the party’s performance during the Lok Sabha elections, leading to a recalibration of the party’s strategy in Maharashtra. The aim is to send a clear message that no single community will be favored over another, appealing to both Marathas and OBCs, who have significant electoral influence.
Analysts suggest that this blend of caste considerations echoes the BJP’s success in Haryana, where the party consolidated non-Jat votes while containing opposition from Jat leaders. Prakash Pawar, a political analyst, said the party’s strategic focus on social engineering could provide it with an edge in the 2024 Maharashtra elections.
This strategy is part of a larger effort by the BJP-led Mahayuti government, which is also rolling out popular schemes like toll waivers and the Ladli Behen initiative, targeting various voter groups. With alliances complicated by factional splits in the Shiv Sena and the NCP, the BJP hopes its balanced candidate selection will resonate with voters across castes and regions.
