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BMC polls: Marathi organisations demand 80% reservation for local candidates
- by Webdesk
- 31 Dec 2025
Source: Hindustan Times
Mumbai: Ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the Marathi Abhyas Kendra along with 14 other organisations advocating for the rights of Marathi-speaking citizens have unveiled a public manifesto named ‘Marathinama’. The document lays out a comprehensive set of demands for political parties, voters, and local governing bodies, with a strong emphasis on securing greater representation and rights for Marathi people in Mumbai’s civic administration.
The manifesto primarily calls for 80% reservation for Marathi citizens in municipal employment, civic contracts, tenders, and governance-related roles. It also urges voters to support Marathi candidates irrespective of their political affiliations, placing linguistic and cultural identity above party loyalties in the BMC elections scheduled for January 15.
The Marathinama was released during a joint gathering held on Wednesday at Rajarshi Shahu Sabhagruha in Dadar. The meeting was attended by representatives from multiple social organisations, language activists, educationists, and concerned citizens working to preserve and promote the Marathi language and culture. According to the organisers, the manifesto is meant to clearly communicate the expectations and demands of Marathi-speaking residents to political stakeholders before the civic polls.
Speaking at the event, Marathi Abhyas Kendra president Deepak Pawar stated that major political parties have repeatedly failed to safeguard the interests of Marathi people in Mumbai. He noted that ongoing political developments have intensified concerns among Marathi residents, who feel that their language and cultural heritage are gradually being marginalised in the city they consider their own.
Pawar indirectly referred to the controversy surrounding the three-language formula earlier this year, when the Maharashtra government proposed making Hindi a compulsory third language for primary school students. The move had triggered widespread opposition from Marathi groups, ultimately forcing the government to withdraw the policy. According to Pawar, such incidents have strengthened the perception that Marathi identity is under constant pressure.
He explained that the Marathinama aims to bring together Marathi voters around shared concerns rather than divisive party politics. The manifesto demands 80% reservation for Marathi people across various civic domains, including municipal jobs, public contracts, tenders, business licences, and hawker permits. It further calls for all major civic committees within the BMC to be led by Marathi representatives.
Another key demand outlined in the document is the mandatory use of the Marathi language in all official BMC communication. This includes notices, bills, procurement documents, and correspondence, ensuring that Marathi is given due prominence in the city’s administrative functioning.
Beyond governance and employment, the manifesto places strong emphasis on education, identifying it as a critical area of concern. The organisations have urged political parties and the municipal administration to prioritise the construction of new buildings for civic schools, particularly those offering Marathi-medium education. They have strongly opposed the closure of Marathi schools witnessed in recent years and demanded that any demolished school structures be replaced with new facilities at the same locations.
The Marathinama also makes a direct appeal to Mumbai voters, urging them to vote exclusively for Marathi candidates, regardless of the political party they belong to. Voters are encouraged to choose candidates who actively support the Marathi language, educational institutions, and cultural traditions. At the same time, the manifesto calls upon citizens to reject candidates who neglect or undermine Maharashtra’s linguistic and cultural identity.
Speakers at the meeting stated that the Marathinama would be actively circulated among political parties, candidates, and voters throughout the election campaign. They clarified that the manifesto is not intended to target or oppose any particular community. Instead, its purpose is to ensure fairness, justice, and equal opportunities for Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai.
According to the organisers, the initiative represents a collective effort to assert Marathi rights in the city’s civic and political landscape and to ensure that local voices are not sidelined in governance. As the BMC elections draw closer, the Marathinama is expected to play a significant role in shaping political discourse around language, culture, and local representation in Mumbai.
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