MUMBAI: Four politically-influential castes, Maratha, Dhangar (shepherd), Mali (gardener) and Vanjari, are going to play a crucial role in the outcome of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. They make up around 60 per cent of the state’s population.
Apart from their political significance, the agitation by these castes demanding special status and reservation have fuelled polarisation in majority of the constituencies. Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha are the regions, where caste is likely to prevail over other issues such as anti-incumbency, corruption and development.
Marathas, who comprise nearly 35 per cent of the population, is the most politically influential caste. It is dominant in Western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha.
Its significance could be judged with a fact that 191 out of the 288 members in the outgoing Assembly belonged to this caste. Even though community has supporters of all the political parties the party which manages to draw the support of the majority of Maratha voters will emerge the winner.
That is why the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have made a provision of 16 per cent reservation for the community in government jobs and educational institutes to lure them.
After Marathas, the Dhangars are the second most influential caste with a population of 10 per cent. This caste is mainly dominant in Western Maharashtra and Marathwada. Its leaders are demanding ST status for Dhangars in order to enable the community to avail the benefits of caste-based reservation. According to its leader, Bharat Karande, they would continue the agitation till their demand was met.
The Vanjaris and the Malis constitute a major portion of the Other Backward Classes (OBC). These castes have not demanded more reservation but have staunchly opposed inducting other castes in the OBC category. These castes are dominant in Marathwada and North Maharashtra.