Faced with potential polarisation in Maharashtra because of the Maratha quota agitation, the BJP formed a meticulous strategy to consolidate the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), who were opposed to giving Marathas reservation benefits allocated for Kunbis (one of the largest OBC groups), and that strategy paid rich dividends in the Assembly polls as the party stormed back to power with its Mahayuti allies.

One main feature of the BJP’s game plan was the creation of more than 20 sub-corporations that reached out to small OBC communities, estimated to be around 350. OBCs comprise around 38% of the overall state population, as per the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission report.

The first step was taken in August 2023 when the Maharashtra Finance and Development Corporation issued notifications for creating these sub-corporations. These bodies that come under the state OBC Department are meant to provide financial aid to those in need from the specific communities for educational, business or other purposes. The sub-corporations are also meant to undertake activities aimed at the economic development of the community members.

Between August 2023 and October, 13 sub-corporations, each targeting small yet significant OBC groups, were set up. They are the Sant Kashiba Gurav Yuva Finance Development Corporation for the Gurav community; Jagadjyoti Mahatma Basaveshwar Finance Development Corporation for Lingayats, Sant Senaji Keshshilpi Finance Development Corporation for Nabhiks); Sant Narhari Maharaj Finance Development Corporation and Rashtrsant Shri Ruplal Maharaj Finance Development Corporation for the Bari community; Late Vishnupant Dadre (Lonari) Finance Development Corporation for the Lonari community; Santaji Prtishthan Telighana Finance Development Corporation for the Teli community; Hindu Khatik Samaj Finance Development Corporation for the Hindu Khatik community; and the Lohar community Finance Development Corporation for the Lohari community.

On October 10, with just over a month to go for the elections, the Eknath Shinde Cabinet decided to set up the Shri Sant Shiromani Namdev Maharaj Samast Shimpi Samaj Finance Development Corporation for the Shimpi community; Sola Kulswamini Finance Development Corporation for the Ladshakhiy Vani and Vani communities; Leuva Patidar Finance Development Corporation for the Leuva Patidar community; Gujar Samaj Finance Development Corporation for Gujars; and Shrikrishna Finance Development Corporation for the Gavali community.

Apart from these sub-corporations, two independent corporations were also formed in March for other small OBC groups. The Sutar Samaj Finance Development Corporation and the Vinkar Samaj Finance Development Corporation for the Sutar and Vinkar, or weaver, communities.

Under the Vasantrao Naik Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribe Development Corporation, which also falls under the state’s OBC department, four more sub-corporations were formed. These include the Raje Umaji Naik Finance Development Corporation for the Ramoshi or Bedar community; Pailwan Late Maruti Vadar Finance Development Corporation for the Vadar community; Brahmalin Acharya Divyanand Puriji Maharaj Finance Development Corporation for the Lohar community; and Parampujya Ganganath Maharaj Finance Development Corporation for the Nathpnathi Davari Gosavi, Nathjogi, Bharadi jogi, Ingtiwale, Mariaiwale, Bahurupi, Gosavi, Smashan jogi, Balsantoshi, Gondhali, Dombari, and Chitrakathi communities.

“One of the aims behind setting up the corporations was to ensure the smaller communities within OBCs that the government was taking care of them. It was always perceived that bigger castes within the OBCs take away the benefits offered by the corporation. The targeted setting up of corporations brought these communities closer to Mahayuti,” said a BJP minister.

With Assembly elections primarily being more local, each of these communities, no matter how small, was important, the leader said. “However small the communities are in the numbers, their votes count when it comes to Assembly and ward-level polls. It seems that our efforts created confidence in them and they rallied behind us,” he said.

For the BJP and the Mahayuti’s electoral math to succeed, it was important to get the OBCs on board as these communities are believed to call the shots in more than half (36) of the 62 seats in Vidarbha where the party was facing the most direct contests with the Congress. Winning Vidarbha was important to win Maharashtra and to win Vidarbha the support of the OBCs was crucial.

The BJP’s attempt to consolidate OBCs is not new, with the party embarking on the “MADHAV formula” in the early 1980s — the acronym stands for the dominant OBC groups Mali, Dhangar and Vanjari — which helped it carve a support base distinct from the Marathas and shed the image of being a “Brahmin, Baniya party”.