Joint Meeting of OBC, VJNT, SC and ST Representatives Passes Landmark Resolutions; MP Dhanorkar Condemns May 14 Decision

     CHANDRAPUR, May 25, 2026: In a significant show of unity and determination, representatives from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities gathered in Chandrapur on Sunday to reiterate their longstanding demand for a caste-wise Census of the OBC community. The meeting, organised by the Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh, passed two historic resolutions that are set to intensify the ongoing agitation across Vidarbha and Maharashtra.

     The joint meeting was held at the Late Dadasaheb Kannamwar Hall, located within the premises of the District Central Cooperative Bank, Chandrapur. The hall was packed with representatives from all corners of the district, reflecting the growing momentum of the OBC movement. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of urgency, determination, and collective resolve as speaker after speaker took to the podium to voice the concerns of their communities.

Two Key Issues at the Heart of the Meeting

     The meeting centered around two critical issues that have been causing widespread resentment among the OBC and allied communities —

Issue 1 — Demand for OBC Caste-Wise Census

     The primary and most pressing demand remains the inclusion of a separate, dedicated column for OBC communities in the national Census forms. Currently, the Census enumeration forms include separate columns for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, allowing for accurate documentation of their populations. However, the OBC community — which constitutes a significant and substantial portion of India's population — has been clubbed under the broad and vague category of "Others," with no specific column to record their caste-wise data.

     This omission, according to OBC leaders, is not merely a bureaucratic oversight but a deliberate act that has far-reaching consequences for the community. Without an accurate, officially recorded caste-wise count, the OBC community stands to lose out on —

• Political Representation: Accurate population data is the foundation of political reservation. Without it, OBC representation in elected bodies cannot be justified or strengthened.
• Educational Reservations: The extent of reservations in educational institutions is directly linked to population figures. Absence of data weakens the case for adequate reservations.
• Government Welfare Schemes: Numerous government schemes designed for backward communities require population data for effective implementation. Without OBC-specific figures, these communities remain underserved.
• Social Justice: True social justice demands that every community's size and needs be accurately known. An invisible community cannot claim its rightful share.

     Leaders at the meeting made it clear that only a Government Gazette notification specifically authorising a caste-wise Census for OBC communities will be acceptable as a resolution. Oral promises and administrative assurances have been made in the past and have not been honored — the community demands legal, documented commitment.

Issue 2 — Immediate Revocation of the May 14, 2026 Government Decision

     The second burning issue discussed at the meeting was the Maharashtra Government's controversial decision dated May 14, 2026. This decision has sent shockwaves through the OBC, SC, ST, and VJNT communities across the state.

     The decision stipulates that candidates belonging to reserved categories who have availed concessions regarding age, educational qualifications, experience, or examination attempts shall henceforth be appointed exclusively within their respective reserved categories. Furthermore, such candidates will no longer be eligible to claim vacancies designated for the Open (General) category.

     Critics of this decision argue that it fundamentally undermines the rights of meritorious students and job aspirants from backward communities. Many candidates from reserved categories, despite qualifying for Open category posts purely on merit, will now be denied those positions simply because they had at some point availed a reservation-related concession. This, they argue, is a double punishment — the community is first denied equal opportunity and then penalised for utilizing the limited protections available to them.

     While the Maharashtra Government has placed a stay on this decision and sought the opinion of the Law and Justice department, organizations insist that a stay is not enough. The decision must be completely and unconditionally withdrawn at the earliest.

Historic Resolution: Mahamorcha on June 28 in Chandrapur

     The most significant outcome of the meeting was the unanimous passing of a landmark resolution moved by Sachin Rajurkar, General Secretary of the Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh. The resolution declared that a grand 'Mahamorcha' (Mass Rally) will be organized in Chandrapur on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

     This Mahamorcha will serve as a powerful public demonstration of the community's anger, unity, and determination. The rally will send two clear and non-negotiable messages to the government —

First: The May 14, 2026 decision must be immediately and unconditionally revoked. Second: The Census Commissioner must issue a Government Gazette notification authorising a proper caste-wise Census for OBC communities.

     Rajurkar also made a fervent appeal to all OBC community members, gram panchayats, sarpanch organisations, and social groups to launch a campaign of non-cooperation with the Census until the government issues the required Gazette notification. He emphasised that this was not merely an appeal but a collective resolve — and the community would hold firm until justice was delivered.

MP Pratibha Dhanorkar: "Struggle Will Continue Until OBC Column is Included"

     Member of Parliament Pratibha Dhanorkar lent significant political weight to the meeting with her strong and unequivocal statement. Addressing the gathering, she said —

     "The struggle of the OBC community will not stop. It will continue until a specific, dedicated column for OBCs is included in the Census enumeration forms. The government cannot ignore the legitimate demands of such a large section of society."

     She went further and directly condemned the Maharashtra Government's May 14 decision, describing it as an act of grave injustice against the Bahujan community. She demanded that the state government immediately revoke this decision without any further delay.

     The presence and strong words of a sitting Member of Parliament gave the meeting and the upcoming Mahamorcha a significant political dimension and added considerable pressure on the state and central governments.

Dr. Babanrao Taywade: "Unity of Bahujan Community Must Continue"

     Dr. Babanrao Taywade, President of the Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh, delivered the presidential address of the meeting. He expressed deep satisfaction at the unity displayed by representatives of diverse communities at the meeting and said —

     "The solidarity and unity we have witnessed today between OBC, VJNT, SC, and ST communities is truly heartening. I sincerely hope and pray that this spirit of unity within the Bahujan community continues not just today, but in all future struggles and endeavours. Only together can we achieve the justice we deserve."

     He called upon all communities to participate enthusiastically in the June 28 Mahamorcha and make it a historic success that sends an undeniable message to the government.

Distinguished Presence of Leaders and Activists

     The meeting was graced by the presence of a large number of prominent leaders, elected representatives, and social activists —

     Senior Leaders: Sachin Rajurkar (General Secretary, Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh), Deputy Mayor Prashant Danav, Standing Committee Chairperson Manasvi Sandip Girhe, Leader of the Opposition Rajesh Adur, Pappu Deshmukh (Janvikas Sena), Pramod Borikar (Tribal Development Council), Keshav Tiranik, Adv. Dattabhau Hazare, Shridhar Malekar (President, Dhanoje Kunbi Community), Prof. Sheshrao Yelekar (Working President, Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh), Jaydeep Rode and Nilesh Nannaware

     Corporators: Vasanta Deshmukh, Akash Sakharkar, Bhalchandra Danav, Abhishek Doiphode, Ramnaresh Yadav, Rahul Chaudhary and Lady Corporators Sunanda Dhobe, Manisha Bobde, Shweta Landge, Bhavana Bawankar

     Social Activists and Community Workers: Ravindra Tonge, Satish Bhivgade, Prashant Kale, Sudhakar Kakade, Suryakant Khanke, Prof. Anil Shinde, Munna Awale, Prof. Babanrao Rajurkar, Devrao Divase, Moreshwar Surkar, Shankar Pal, Harishchandra Gaurkar, Prabhakar Gedam, Balu Satpute, Dr. Vijay Helvete, Prof. Ravi Zhade, Shyam Rajurkar, Naren Gedam, Ganesh Awari, Tulshiram Derkar, Santosh Bandurkar, Arvind Madavi, Dattu Kadukar and Mubarak Sheikh

     Representatives from OBC, VJNT, Special Backward Classes (SBC), Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes communities were present in large numbers, reflecting the broad-based support the movement enjoys across all communities.

Programme Conducted By

     The programme was efficiently conducted by Krishna Meshram while the vote of thanks was proposed by Ramdas Kamdi.

The Road Ahead — June 28 Mahamorcha

     The June 28 Mahamorcha in Chandrapur is being seen as a watershed moment in the OBC agitation in Maharashtra. Community leaders are reaching out to villages, towns, and cities across Vidarbha and beyond, urging maximum participation. Sarpanch organizations, gram panchayats, and social groups have been called upon to mobilise their members and converge on Chandrapur for this historic rally.

     The message from the OBC community is unambiguous and powerful — "No OBC Gazette Notification, No Census Cooperation. No Justice on May 14 Decision, No Peace." Until the government responds with concrete action rather than empty promises, the agitation will only grow stronger.

Appeal: Join the Chandrapur Mahamorcha on June 28 — Stand United for the Rights of OBC and Bahujan Communities Across India!