Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday declared victory after the Maharashtra government’s cabinet sub-committee accepted most of his key demands, including the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Marathas. The announcement, made on the fifth day of his indefinite hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, triggered jubilant celebrations among thousands of his supporters.

Speaking to the crowd after meeting the sub-committee headed by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Jarange said, “We have won.” Other members of the delegation included Ministers Shivendrasinh Bhosale, Uday Samant, and Manikrao Kokate. The leaders discussed a draft proposal with Jarange, which he subsequently read out to the assembled protesters.

Jarange confirmed that the government has agreed to implement the Hyderabad Gazette, ensuring that Marathas with Kunbi records will receive caste certificates after verification. A Government Resolution (GR) formalising this decision is expected to be issued immediately, while the Satara Gazette will be implemented within a month.

The state also pledged to withdraw cases against protesters by the end of September and provide financial assistance and government jobs, based on qualifications, to the kin of those who lost their lives during the agitation. So far, ₹15 crore has been disbursed to affected families, with the remaining funds to be released within a week.

Setting a final deadline, Jarange stated, “We will leave Mumbai by 9 pm today if the government issues GRs on the Maratha quota demands.” Minister Vikhe Patil clarified that approximately eight lakh objections have been filed against the earlier notification regarding sage soyare (blood relatives), and the government requires time to review them.

Legal measures are being explored to issue a GR equating Marathas with Kunbis, a process expected to take around two months.

The Maratha community has long been demanding a 10 per cent quota in government jobs and educational institutions under the OBC category. Their claim is based on the Hyderabad Gazette, a historic notification recognising Marathas as Kunbis.

Jarange, who began his hunger strike on August 29 at Azad Maidan, has led several such protests over the past year, drawing large crowds and compelling successive governments to make concessions. This latest breakthrough comes after five days of fasting and prolonged negotiations between the protesters and authorities.