The Maratha reservation issue seems to be a brewing thunderstorm for the BJP-run government in Maharashtra. Caught on the backfoot, the state government seems to be scrabbling for time, telling the court that the committee constituted to study the Maratha community and come up with reasons why they deserve reservation, would need three more months to complete its work.

Government reservations have always been a contentious issue, with politicians fanning the live coals, ensuring the issue is kept burning. Every election, politicians make absurd promises, with an eye on the numbers in the ballot box. Reservations were created to tackle the issue of caste and class, and were primarily meant to uplift those at the absolute periphery of society. The objective now seems to be defeated as all communities, even those long considered privileged and upper caste like the Marathas or the Jats in Haryana who enjoy tremendous political heft, have been demanding reservations.