The Shiv Sena today urged the Maharashtra government to give reservation to Marathas, Dhangars, and Kolis, saying not doing so would make it a "banana republic". The politically influential Maratha community, constituting around 30 percent of the state's population, has been agitating to press its demand for reservation in jobs and education. Once the Maratha community is given reservation, others will come out on streets and a new problem will crop up, the Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP, said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"Hence the government should take a decision on demands of all communities simultaneously. The BJP had, in any case, promised reservation to Dhangars before elections," the Marathi publication said. If all these communities come out on streets and demand reservation one by one, Maharashtra will, in no time, become a "banana republic," it said. The state should unanimously pass the resolution of giving reservation to Marathas, Dhangars (shepherd) and Kolis (fisher-folk) and send it to the Centre for approval, else the state will have to suffer, it said.