Manoj Jarange. File photo: Handout via PTI.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil left for Mumbai with handful of supporters on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) to secure reservation for Marathas under the OBC category as the permission for protest was denied.
Mr. Jarange-Patil left from the place of protest, Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, around 11 a.m. to reach Mumbai on September 19 and continue his indefinite hunger strike from Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, likely to mark the 19th day of his protest.
“The Mahayuti government has denied permission for protest in Mumbai. I will die or get reservation. I am travelling alone with two ambulances and two cars, with maximum 10 people,” he told media persons in Jalna.
While leaving from Antarwali Sarati, Mr. Jarange-Patil was seen consoling his family, saying “to stay strong” and “in case of his death, the brother should take care of his two daughters and wife”.
Mr. Jarange-Patil will hit Mumbai, when the city will be drowned in the celebration of Ganeshotsav festival, which started on September 14.
His arrival on September 16 will be the third protest staged in Mumbai for Marathi reservation in last three years. The first protest was led on the outskirts of Mumbai in the Vashi region of Navi Mumbai in January 2024; the second protest was held in August 2025, and this will be his third. He will be returning to Mumbai on Wednesday, demanding immediate issuance of Kunbi certificates, alleging that the government has been cancelling the issued certificates.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked Mr. Jarange-Patil to reconsider his decision to protest in Mumbai, saying the protest during Ganeshotsav would cause inconvenience to devotees. Police had declined his application. Mr. Fadnavis said the 12 demands were met among the 13 demands. “We explained to him why his 13th demand could not be met as it doesn’t stand legally, and might harm the Maratha community,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde pointed out that last year at least 58 morchas took place but those never caused inconvenience to others. However, people on the other side should think what they were doing.
The original plan was to march along with thousands of supporters to Mumbai, starting from September 13. The first stop was Patoda in Beed, second stop in Shrigonda, Ahilyanagar, and the third stop in Hadapsar, Pune. However, now he will travel to Mumbai.
Published – September 15, 2026 03:47 pm IST
