The pro-Marathi group, formed in 2017 and claiming 22,000 members, is led by ex-MNS functionaries who maintain it has no political affiliation; acknowledging this past, 43-year-old entrepreneur and MES General Secretary, Krishna Jadhav, claimed that no one from the Samiti has any affiliation with any political party
(From left) Pramod Parte, treasurer; Krishna Jadhav, general secretary; Govardhan Dehsmulh, president; Pradeep Samant, working president of MES. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Marathi Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has suddenly found itself at the centre of recent protests in Mumbai over Marathi language, identity, and culture. While the MES is being projected as an independent pro-Marathi force, few know that its president and general secretary were once local office bearers of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Acknowledging this past, 43-year-old entrepreneur and MES General Secretary, Krishna Jadhav, claimed that no one from the Samiti has any affiliation with any political party. Govardhan Deshmukh is the president of the MES. Both Jadhav and Deshmukh earlier served as local office bearers of the MNS in their respective areas before quitting the party more than 11 years ago.
“During our days in the MNS, whenever the party raised issues of Marathi pride, the movement was dismissed as politically motivated for votes. That’s when we decided to form an independent, non-profit organisation which would unite Marathi-speaking people,” said Krishna Jadhav.
The idea of the Samiti was conceived in 2013, shaped in 2015, and formally registered in 2017. The Samiti claims to be active in 22 districts and to have around 22,000 members. The MES has a seven-member core committee with its head office at Moghe Niwas in Dadar. Besides Deshmukh and Jadhav, the other key office bearers of the MES are Pradeep Samant (working vice-president) and Pramod Parte, who serves as treasurer.
In July, the MES staged a protest in Mira Road after an incident in which an MNS worker allegedly slapped a food stall owner for refusing to speak Marathi. Soon after, the MES held its own demonstration, which openly received support from the MNS. The MES is being projected as an emerging pro-Marathi force, with many in political circles suspecting the organisation enjoys strong political backing.
However, MES office bearers insist there is no merit to such speculation and maintain that the oarganisation acts independently. Meanwhile, insiders from both the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) admit that the issues raised by the MES reflect their own concerns. On Friday, MES President Deshmukh answered a call made by this reporter but requested to be contacted later as he was occupied with urgent work. Attempts to reach him on Saturday and Sunday went unanswered.
“Those trying to link MES with parties are doing so only because they do not want Marathi people to come together. Episodes like Mira Road and the Hindi language row have made everyone realise what Marathi unity can do or rather, force the government to do,” Jadhav said. “If anyone wants to extend support to the MES — whether individuals or political parties, they are welcome,” Jadhav said.
Explaining the choice of name, Jadhav said, “The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement was formed to demand a separate Marathi-speaking state, as it was the need of the hour at that time. Now the question is: who will fight and raise their voice against injustice to the Marathi people? The need is to unite Marathi-speaking people. That is why we named it Marathi Ekikaran Samiti.”
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