Party floated by Marathas supports Shiv Sena in civic polls

A political party launched by various Maratha organisations demanding reservation for the community has decided to support the Shiv Sena in the upcoming local body polls in Maharashtra.
Rashtriya Maratha Party, which registered itself with the State Election Commission a month back, has submitted a list of demands to the Sena, in exchange of its support.
Vikas Patil, chief of the fledgling outfit, today said they have put forth a list of five demands to Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and in return will support the saffron party in the upcoming local body polls.
"In return for our support to the Sena, we have asked Uddhav ji to ensure Marathas are provided reservation in jobs and education without disturbing the quota provided to other communities. Also, we have asked him to ensure a complete waiver of loans is given to farmers," he told reporters here.

Patil, who was accompanied by senior Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe, said the Sena should make certain that farmers get remunerative rates of their produce, and also that Maharashtra remains united.
"We have also demanded that hostels with good facilities be constructed for poor students from the Maratha community in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Kalyan and Nashik."

In the past few months, Maratha groups have organised massive rallies across the State to press for their reservation demand.
Meanwhile, Gorhe, in an attack on the BJP, said the latter is following a "malicious" policy of defaming the Sena without providing substantial proof to back its charges.

"Instead of talking about the development work of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in the last five years, they (the BJP) are following a malicious campaign of maligning us. They seem to have forgotten their own development agenda," she said.
Responding to the BJP's claims the Sena has entered into a tacit understanding with the Congress ahead of polls, the legislator said, "Praising somebody for good work does not mean we have any relation with them.