Some eight weeks ago this column said that the agitation of Marathas would get serious and even bigger, and may not augur well for a progressive Maharashtra. The massive protest — remarkable and exceptional in its conduct – has caught the attention of national and international media. The BJP government, which Marathas accuse of not being receptive to their grievances, has, albeit late, started weighing pros and cons of an unprecedented movement launched by a dominant community.

Going by organisers’ claims, agitating Marathas have taken out 24 silent marches that saw a cumulative participation of about 2 crore from across the state. Places of strategic, political and historic importance – Kolhapur (capital of one of the Maratha royal seats), Mumbai (the state capital) and Nagpur (where the winter session of the state legislature will be held in December) are remaining.