1. International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, April, 2012. ISSN- 0975-3486, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/30097;VoL.III *ISSUE-31
Research Paper—Political Science
BJP's Social Engineering in Maharashtra
April, 2012 * Dr. Vijay C. Patil
* Asso. Prof., Dept. of Political Science, Smt. Kasturbai Walchand College, SANGLI (M.S)
The politics in Maharashtra is influenced and based Teli, (OBC and middle caste farmers) in addition to the
on the caste system. This caste system is generally support of Brahmins since inception. As a part of this,
classified and divided in upper caste, medium caste, the party has tried and succeeded to bring forward the
Dalit, Christian, Muslim and Non Marathi people. leaders like Gopinath Mundhe,Anna Dange,
The Brahmins are mainly coming in the category of N.S.Pharande, Mahaderao Shivankar. The party also
upper caste people having its extent upto 4%. Lingayat, took a lead to make the OBC people alert who were
Rajput, Komati, Gujar, Lodhi are included in middle awaken by the recommendations of Mandal Commis-
caste hasving spread over Marathvada, Western Mah, sion to move towards getting political powr, after 1978.
North Maha. Vidarbha reigon, Bhudhist,Matang and Gopinath Mundhe,he himself being OBC,he offered
Charmkar (Cobbler) are coming in the category of his support and vindication to OBC politics.Therefore,
Dalit, having its extent upto 10.2%. The extent of the BJP extended its scope in OBC community in
Mulsim community in Mah. Is of 10%. The existence Marathvada region.(Gholave-437-38).
of non Marathi communities are found in Mumbai and The positive effects of the same are seen in
now recently in Pune, Nagpur area. Its extent is of 5%. 1990's Vidhansabha election. In this election, the party
Apart from this, Maratha community is having influ- after having alliance with Shiv Sena, contested 104
ence over politics in Maha. The extent of Maratha - seats and out of these, the party succeeded to win over
Kunabi community is of 31%. The State of Maharashtra 42 seats. This success was quite good as compared to
is the only State in India, wherein, This caste of people the earlier success. The party attracted the voters from
of distinct communities, are spread over. the constituencies namely Mumbai, Konkan,
The group of Maratha people is having more Viodhrbha and Marathvada with the help of Shiv
dominant especially in rural area. The ownership over Sena.The party put forward the greatest and strongest
the agricultural land is the main component of their appeals before the ruling Congress party. The effects of
dominance. (Vhora 73). The other Maratha people the same were experienced during the period since
such as middle caste agriculturist, OBC community 1990 to 1995.
(Dhangar, Vanjari, Mali Teli) are having their influ- The sequel of events such as Ram Janma Bhumi
ence in local political systems. All these non Maratha agitation, support to Mandal Commission, demand of
agriculturists are having their influence in rural area. separate Vidharbha, the corrupt practice of Congress,
The concept of other back ward class is realized and the attacks by the terriorists, casued effect and as a
noticed out of the issue raised through Mandal Com- result thereof, in 1995's election, BJP got tremendous
mission. Before that all these classes of people were success. In this election,the party having an alliance
falling under the category of "Bahujan caste" people. with Shiv Sena raised their 17 candidates for conesting
The Mali, Vanjari and Dhangar from OBC are the the election out of which 12 were the women candi-
agriculturists and these communities are comparatively dates. The party did not offer the candidacy to any
more influential and the reason for the same is of their single muslilm.
ownership over the agricultural land and their extent Taking into consideration the strength of Maratha
of population. These classes are divided on the per- community and as per the system of other political
centage basis as 3% of Mali, 4% of Dhangar, 1.5% of parties, the BJP also offered the candidacy to the activ-
Vanjari and 1.5% of Teli. ists from Maratha community.So also, after noticing
The party arranged the mindful strategy to offer the OBC's political participation and its increased
the opportunities to the distinct caste sections to rep- ambition, the party also offered the selective and promi-
resent them in the politics, after having deeply consid- nent posts to the leaders of this community and also
ered about the different components of the society. offered the candidacies. Generally the Dalits were
Therefore, the party attempted to get support of the supporting the Congress. The Nav Baudha community
different sections of the societies such as cobblers and are the supporters of Congress and R.P.I.and knowing
Matang from Dalit,Maratha, Mali,Vanjari,Dhangar, the same fact, the BJP in order to settle its place in the
44 RESEARCH AN ALYSI S AND EVALU ATION

2. International Indexed & Referred Research Journal, April, 2012. ISSN- 0975-3486, RNI-RAJBIL 2009/30097;VoL.III *ISSUE-31
communities, other than Baudha (Matanga, 2009's elections the party received support of different
Charmakar), the party offered the candidacy to such class groups. Out of that mostly the OBC and Kunabi
activists.(Vhora-Palshikar -77).18 constituencies are categories supported the BJP . Kunabi though it being
reserved in Maharashtra only for scheduled castes and a Maratha caste, but it is included in OBC category. In
the party raised their 9 candidates out of these seats North Maharashtra and Vidharbha regions, this Kunabi
and got 8 seats accordingly. In the Adiwasi area, the caste is found in a larger extent. Similarly in
organizations related to BJP, performed in well disci- Marathwada, Vidharha and North and Western
plined manner in these areas and thereby tried to cre- Maharashtra, the OBC, Dhangar, Mali, Banjara, Teli,
ate its own influence thereat.(Deshpande Rajeshwari). Vanjari, Komati, Leva Patil are found to a greater
The BJP, which was the party once upon a time, extent. The political leaders belonging to these com-
being recognized as a party of Shetaji-Bhataji , has munities, who were ambitious to have political power,
tried to fix its foundadtion in other classes of commu- found this way through entry into BJP. Thereafter, the
nities. The party laid its stragegy to take all the activ- OBC and Kunabi class voters were mostly attracted
ists along with it, who were neglected and kept away towards BJP.This support was mainly increased after
from getting power in rural , city as well as semi city 1996 time.
areas. Those were from different classes such as Kunabi, Dalit community in Maharashtra mainly
Teli, Vanjari, Komati, Leva-Patl, Mali, Dhangar as consists of the castes namely Baudha, Matang,
wel as Matang, Charmakar and the components of Charmakar, Bhangi, Vhalar, Taral, Mhetar,Dhor,
aborigines communities and to some extent the party Khatik and Burud. Out of these , Matang, Bhaudha
succeeded to get the success. and Charmakar are more in strength and found every
Thereafter, having secured the ruling power, where.Bhaudha community is again divided in many
the party's success reflected over the social structure of groups of R P I. However, the support of Matang,
the Ministry formed by it. In the Ministry of BJP-Shiv Charmakar and upper class Bhaudha society people,
Sena, there were 15 Ministers of BJP and out of them, to BJP was increasing. In the recent local self Govt.
only two were the upper-class section, 4 were belong- Insitution's elections held in 2012, because of alliance
ing to Maratha, 3 from OBC category, 1 each from Aghadi, committed with BJP-Shiv Sena by R P I (Group
aborigine caste and Dalit community and two were of Athavale) the BJP-Shiv Sena received the benefit
from non Marathi categories. It is a proudable and of the same. The support of aborigines though it was
more special phenomenon,Gopinath Mujndhe even appearing in favour of BJP, but it was not constant but
he being from OBC category, was offered the post of unstable. It was seen to be reduced as compared to the
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The party has period of 1996. BJP was having more strength in the
already changed its face and tried to lay down the Gujarthi and Hindi linguistic voters in Mumbai. On
strategy of taking with them, the leaders of other classes the support of non Marathi voters in Mumbai, the
and this practice was being continued forward. In spite members of Legislative Assembly were got elected.
of fact of defeat, in the election of 1999, 2004 and But, after 2004, these supporters turned their faces
2009, still the party maintined its changed social na- from BJP to other political parties. Therefore, in
ture. The strength of Ministers from OBC, Dalit, were 2004,2009's elections , the BJP received severe shock
later on increased. in Mumbai (Palashikar-Kulkarni 118-119). But it is
The BJP, considering the strength of the distinct class apparent that the BJP is stable in he communities like
groups in the social structure in Maharashtra, built up Dalit, aborigine, OBC
the party and laid election strategy. During 1996 to
R E F E R E N C E *Vhora Rajendra -Maratha Varchasva,Swarup V-Maryada
Maharashtrache Rajkaran,(Editor-Suhas Palashikar, Nitin
* Singh V.B. -Bhajapacha Uday Ani Congresscha
Birmal), Pratima Prakashan Pune - 2007.
Padav, Bharitya Lokshahi, Artha Ani Vyavahar,(Anuvad-Chitra
*Deshpande Rajeshwari- Sattasangharsh,Sam akalin,
Lele)Editor-Rajendra Vhora & Suhas Palshikar, Diamond Publi-
Prakashan,Pune 2010
cation, Pune 2010.
* Bagade Haribhau -Jansangha te Bhajapa, Bhartiya Vichar
* Palshikar Suhas - Sattasangharsh, Samakalin Prakashan,
Darshan Patrika, Mumbai.
Kulkarni Suhas Pune 2010.
* Gholave Somnath - Marthwada : Punha Congresskade. - Samaj
* Vhora Rajendra - Maharashtratil Sattantar ,Granthali,
Prabodhan Patrika,Belgum July-December,2009.
Palashikar Suhas Pune 1996.
RESEARCH AN ALYSI S AND EVALU ATION
45