Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange.
Credit: PTI Photo
Jalna: Several Dalit and Muslim leaders on Thursday met Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange in Antarwali Sarati in Jalna and announced their commitment to formulate a "common minimum programme" for the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly polls.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Jarange asked Dalits and Muslims to support candidates backed by him and also asked Marathas to do likewise for Dalit and Muslim candidates.
"Our unity is needed to challenge the established power and defeat those who work against our communities," Jarange said.
Islamic scholar Sajjad Nomani slammed the BJP for "dividing the nation on religious lines" and said a unified front was important to avoid splitting of votes.
"We have decided to issue a common minimum programme for the elections. Our unity is an example not only for Maharashtra but the entire country," Nomani said.
Seconding his stand, Dalit leaders Rajratna Ambedkar and Anandraj Ambedkar also said unity was essential to throw out "entrenched power".
To announce list on November 3
Firm on contesting the Vidhan Sabha polls in Maharashtra, Manoj Jarange-Patil will announce the list of constituencies and candidates on November 3.
Jarange-Patil, the founder of Shivba Sanghatana, has over the past few days held a series of meetings at his Antarwali Sarathi village in the Ambad tehsil of Jalna district.
“We have to usher in a change,” said Jarange-Patil announcing that more details would be shared on Sunday.
With PTI inputs
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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