Athawale slams Raj Thackeray for 'anti quota' remarks

Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday asked Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray to withdraw his antireservation remarks or else Dalits and backward classes will boycott MNS candidates in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 reported the PTIRamdas Athawale said that Raj Thackerays remarks on reservations were uncalled forSpeaking to reporters in Pandharpur town in Maharashtra Raj Thackeray had on Monday said that the local people should be given priority in job opportunitiesMy stance is that locals should be given priority in job opportunities Why should caste be a factor in this If the private sector continues to create jobs we should think about how many people will benefit from reservation in government jobs the MNS chief had said according to the PTISlamming Raj Thackeray Ramdas Athawale MOS for Social Justice stated If he doesnt withdraw his remarks Dalits Adivasis and OBCs should boycott MNS candidates in the Maharashtra assembly pollsRaj Thackeray also said all communities must understand they are being fooled for votesThe ongoing political scenario involves using someone as a proxy to push their agenda neglecting the needs of students from OBC Maratha and other communities he had said sparking protests by Maratha quota agitatorsMaratha community members led by activist Manoj Jarange have been demanding inclusion in the OBC Other Backward Classes categoryRamdas Athawaleled Republican Party of India A an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP wields influence on Dalit votes in some pockets of MaharashtraThe elections for 288member assembly are due in October this yearChange of govt inevitable in Maharashtra after assembly polls PatoleMeanwhile Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Tuesday expressed confidence that a change in the government was inevitable in the state after the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections reported the PTIOn Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackerays threeday Delhi visit starting Tuesday Patole said the former Maharashtra chief minister will meet Congress leadership in the national capitalThey will discuss a strategy about how to defeat the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra he said as per the PTIUddhav Thackeray will hold talks with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the prevailing political situation in the state he addedThe Congress leader said seatsharing talks for the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA comprising the Congress Shiv Sena UBT and NCP SP will be held in Mumbai and not DelhiAssembly elections in Maharashtra are likely to be held in October this yearwith PTI inputs