BJP revises strategy for backward castes for Maharashtra Assembly polls following Lok Sabha elections

In the aftermath of the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is reworking its strategy on micro management of small castes in Maharashtra, especially among the Backward Class and the government at the Centre is likely to include seven backward castes from the state in the central list of OBCs.

The National Commission of Backward Classes (NCBC) chaired by Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, has recommended inclusion of seven castes along with their 12 sub castes in the central list of OBCs. These castes include Lodh, several subsets of Gujar, Dangari, Bhoyar, Munnar Kapu, Telangi, Pentarreddy, Bukekari castes.

Sources said three more such castes of OBCs will be recommended for inclusion in the central list of backwards.


NCBC chairperson Ahir, a BJP leader, is also an OBC from Maharashtra. He was earlier a Union minister in Modi 1.0. "It was a long pending demand that these castes be included in the central list of OBCs," Ahir told ET.

In total, there are 351 OBC castes from Maharashtra, out of which only 291 are in the central list. There has been demand to include these additional castes in the central list. Munnar Kapu, Telangi, Pentarreddy castes are present in sizable numbers in Solapur and Nanded while various sub-castes of Gujars have a decent presence in Nashik and Jalgaon. The Bhoyar-Pawar community has a presence in Bhandara, Godia and Wardha in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

All these castes are located in total six Lok Sabha seats and impact around 24-30 assembly seats.