Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange initiated a renewed and intensified agitation, issuing a stark warning to the Maharashtra government on Sunday. He declared that if the Maratha community was not granted reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, members from across Maharashtra would join his protest by the following weekend. To escalate pressure, Jarange announced he would begin refusing water from Monday, continuing his ongoing fast at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. His central demand was the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to all Marathas, thereby making them eligible for OBC reservation benefits. As his agitation entered its fourth day, Jarange expressed his unwillingness to grant any more time to the Mahayuti government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing it of neglecting the Maratha community’s critical demands. He emphatically stated, “All Marathas must be given Kunbi certificates. Nobody can stop us from getting the OBC quota,” and cautioned the government that Maratha withdrawal of support could significantly impact election outcomes for the Mahayuti alliance.

In response to the escalating crisis, a cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, headed by senior minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, convened a crucial meeting on Sunday. This meeting involved Maharashtra’s Advocate General Biren Saraf, retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde, and other committee members. The discussions primarily centered on the legal viability of implementing historical documents, specifically the Hyderabad and Satara gazetteers, to support the classification of Marathas as Kunbis. Following the meeting, Vikhe-Patil indicated that the Advocate General and Justice Shinde required additional time to thoroughly study the legal applicability of these gazetteers in line with Jarange’s demands. He acknowledged the challenge posed by a Supreme Court observation stating that Marathas and Kunbis are not inherently the same, noting that this observation could not be overridden, yet expressed an openness for continued dialogue to find a resolution.

The scale of the protest, which began with Jarange's indefinite fast on the preceding Friday, led to significant public disruption. Thousands of supporters converged on Mumbai, blocking roads and railway stations, causing major inconvenience to regular commuters. The Bombay High Court, on Tuesday, strongly criticized the Maharashtra government for its failure to manage the protests effectively. A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice S.V. Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe questioned the state's reliance on Jarange’s influence to pacify the situation instead of enforcing earlier court orders. The High Court had previously expressed displeasure on Monday over the widespread disruption in South Mumbai. Despite Jarange's appeal to his supporters to clear roads and CSMT railway station following the court's ultimatum, his continued presence at Azad Maidan, with permission initially granted for only 24 hours, drew further rebuke. The court admonished the state for not informing it about the increase in participants from 5,000 to over a lakh and warned of potential orders against the government for its "unhappy conduct," suggesting the site could have been vacated "forcefully" to uphold the rule of law. The court also hinted at holding Jarange responsible for instigating crowds beyond permitted limits, adjourning the matter to Wednesday.

A significant turn in the agitation occurred on Tuesday when the Maharashtra government accepted most of Manoj Jarange's demands. This led to Jarange ending his five-day-old fast that evening. News of the government's acceptance, particularly the commitment to grant eligible Marathas Kunbi caste certificates for OBC reservation benefits, sparked widespread jubilation. Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, recognized as the epicentre of the Maratha reservation movement, erupted in celebrations. Supporters at the protest site and in Antarwali Sarati took to the streets, waving saffron flags, beating drums, chanting slogans, and celebrating what they termed a "historic victory." Local leaders organized ceremonies with prayers, crackers, and traditional music, while Jarange's family expressed profound happiness, noting the potential for thousands of young Marathas to benefit from increased opportunities in education and government jobs. This victory also brought back memories of Jarange's initial agitation two years prior, which gained prominence after violence during a forced hospital admission attempt.

However, the government's decision to accommodate Maratha demands ignited significant internal tensions within the Maha Yuti government and provoked strong opposition from the OBC community. Veteran OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal notably skipped the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, signaling his disapproval. OBC leaders threatened large-scale protests if their existing quota was compromised, with the Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh initiating a chain hunger strike in Nagpur. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was expected to meet with OBC protestors. On Wednesday, the state OBC department issued a Government Resolution (GR) to establish a nine-member Cabinet sub-committee, led by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, tasked with addressing OBC grievances. This panel will examine the social, educational, and financial status of the OBC community, review welfare schemes, ensure fair representation, and deliberate with protesting OBC leaders.

Despite these governmental efforts, deep dissatisfaction persisted among OBC leaders. Chhagan Bhujbal openly expressed his discontent, indicating a potential legal challenge to the GR related to the Hyderabad Gazette, which facilitates Maratha reservation under the OBC category. He criticized the GR for its ambiguous language and affirmed that legal implications were being reviewed, with an option to approach the High Court or Supreme Court if necessary. Further escalating the opposition, OBC leader Laxman Hake publicly tore a copy of the GR, denouncing it as unconstitutional and illegal. Hake asserted that the GR effectively undermined OBC reservation and accused political parties of prioritizing Maratha votes, warning of a political boycott against leaders who supported the Maratha quota agitation. The complex interplay of demands, concessions, and counter-protests highlights the intricate and volatile nature of caste-based reservations in Maharashtra.