Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the reservation demands being raised across the state, telling reporters on Tuesday that his government would hear out the demands but would take decisions only within the boundaries set by the Constitution and existing rules.
Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said his government functions strictly according to the Constitution and will continue to do so, adding that it does not act under pressure or step outside the rules. At the same time, he assured that the government remains willing to listen to every community's concerns.
Only demands within the constitutional framework will be considered
Fadnavis laid out the exact yardstick his government will use while examining reservation demands. "If any demand is in public interest and falls within the Constitution, it will be considered. If it does not fall within the constitutional framework, it will not be accepted," he said. In other words, a demand backed only by claims of public interest will not automatically be accepted; it must also be legally sustainable under the Constitution.
Comments come amid renewed debate over Maratha and OBC reservation
The Chief Minister's remarks came at a time when demands linked to reservation for the Maratha community and the Other Backward Classes, or OBC, category have reignited political debate in the state. Fadnavis reiterated his government's commitment to ensuring justice for all communities, including the Marathas, OBCs, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He said the Constitution directs the government to look after every section of society, and that his administration would not take away rights from one community to hand them to another. According to him, the government has taken care of every community so far and will continue to follow the same approach going forward.
Fadnavis defends Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule
During the same interaction, Fadnavis was also asked about Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who had faced allegations of working against the interests of a particular community. Defending the minister, Fadnavis explained that under the Constitution, it is mandatory for any minister to forward complaints and representations received from the public to the concerned department for examination. He further clarified that the department does not base its decision merely on such representations, but arrives at its conclusion only after examining the evidence. With this explanation, Fadnavis effectively rejected the allegations against Bawankule, saying the entire process had followed the established rules.
A dispute that has run through courts and agitations for years
The Maratha reservation dispute in Maharashtra centres on the category and the legal basis under which the Maratha community should be granted reservation in government jobs and education. The matter has remained unresolved for several years, playing out simultaneously through street agitations and court proceedings, without reaching a lasting settlement. Fadnavis's latest remarks come against the backdrop of this long-running dispute, signalling that the government intends to tread carefully on a politically sensitive issue.
