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In a U-turn, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday said he will not support any contestant or party in the Maharashtra assembly polls and asked his supporters who had filed nominations to withdraw their candidature.
Monday is the last day for withdrawing nominations. The state assembly elections will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.
After marathon meetings, Jarange's decision not to participate in the electoral process marks a notable shift from his earlier strategy, as he had identified certain constituencies where he intended to support or oppose some candidates.
Speaking to reporters at Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna on Monday, Jarange said, "After much deliberation, I have decided not to field any candidate in the state. The Maratha community will decide on its own whom to defeat and whom to elect. I have no affiliation to or support for any candidate or political party."
The activist asserted he was not under any pressure from the ruling Mahayuti or the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
"I am under no pressure from anyone. The community itself will decide whom to support based on their commitment to the Maratha cause," he said, while encouraging voters to seek commitments in written or video forms from candidates pledging to support the interests of Marathas.
Jarange said his allies who had decided to contest the assembly elections with his support, did not send their list (of nominees) till 3 am on Monday.
"They came yesterday and said they will send their list by 6-7 pm (on Sunday), but the list did not reach. We were about to contest 14 seats and a decision was pending on 11 seats. We cannot win elections on the votes of one single community (Maratha)," he said.
The activist said they have no option left but to back out of the election.
"We don't have a long experience of politics. I appeal to the candidates to withdraw their forms. Our agitation (for Maratha quota) will continue after the elections," he added.
Jarange also said he doesn't wish to target or defeat any candidate as "no one is of use to us", and added that people are wise enough (to decide whom to vote for).
Asked in which constituencies he was planning to defeat the candidates, he said, "The Maratha community should help those who will give us a video that the candidate stands by our demands (for Maratha quota)."
Expressing faith in his community's influence over the elections, Jarange remarked, "No one can be elected in this state without the support of Marathas."
He urged the Maratha community members not to attend any political rally and not be swayed by any party.
"Those who have wronged or harassed the Maratha community should be taught a lesson through the ballot," he said.
Jarange reaffirmed his commitment to secure reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category and said his struggle for the quota would continue.
The activist on Sunday announced he would support two candidates from Parvati and Daund in the state assembly polls, though he said their names will be disclosed later.
The two seats are currently held by the BJP, which Jarange has often accused of opposing Maratha reservations.
Jarange had earlier said he would support candidates in Phulambri, Kannad (in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Hingoli, Pathari (in Parbhani) and Hadgaon (in Nanded).
He had also claimed he would work to defeat sitting MLAs of Bhokardan (in Jalna), Gangapur (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Kalamnuri (Hingoli), Gangakhed and Jintur (in Parbhani) and Ausa in Latur. These MLAs are from the Mahayuti government.