Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange initiated an indefinite hunger strike in Mumbai, declaring it 'a final fight' for reservation for his community under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category by the Maharashtra Government. Starting his agitation at Azad Maidan on Friday, Jarange vowed to continue until his demand is met, threatening to cease water intake within days and stating his readiness to sacrifice his life. He emphasized that he would only leave Mumbai after achieving the reservation goal, warning of a larger influx of Marathas if the demand remained unaddressed.

Initially granted permission for peaceful protests, Mumbai police later extended the allowance for his hunger strike by a day, a move Jarange criticized as playing 'games' instead of announcing reservations. Thousands of supporters, sporting saffron caps and flags, joined Jarange Patil at Azad Maidan, turning the area into a 'sea of saffron' and causing significant traffic snarls at CSMT, prompting Central Railway to advise essential travel only. Jarange urged the government to seize the opportunity to 'win the hearts of the poor Marathas' by conceding to their demands quickly.

Jarange's core demand is the recognition of all Marathas as Kunbis, an agrarian caste already included in the OBC category, which would grant them eligibility for reservation in government jobs and education. He explicitly denied seeking to reduce the existing OBC quota, asserting, 'We are asking for what is our right. This is our final fight.' He also accused the government of attempting to divide Marathas and OBCs.

The agitation drew various political reactions. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas met Jarange at Azad Maidan, promising to discuss the matter with the Chief Minister for a suitable solution. However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated the state government's commitment to the socio-economic upliftment of Marathas but reiterated that it would not succumb to 'political pressure on unreasonable demands' that could lead to injustice for OBCs, aiming for a constitutionally valid solution. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticized the government for allegedly deceiving the Maratha community in the past and urged immediate dialogue with Jarange.

Tensions escalated when NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule visited Azad Maidan on Sunday. Her vehicle was reportedly attacked by agitated demonstrators who accused her father, Sharad Pawar, of neglecting Maratha community concerns. Protestors blocked her car, raised slogans, and reportedly attempted to throw a water bottle, leading to chaos before security personnel cleared the way. Sule later called for a special session of the Maharashtra Assembly to address the reservation issue. BJP MLC Praveen Darekar attributed the anger to Sharad Pawar's past inaction on the Maratha quota. CM Fadnavis condemned the incident, emphasizing that leaders visiting protest sites should be treated with dignity and that acts of aggression are unacceptable.

As the deadlock continued into its fourth day, Jarange issued a stern warning on Sunday, stating that if reservation is not granted, Maratha community members from across Maharashtra would join the protest by the following weekend. He announced plans to intensify his agitation by refusing to consume water starting Monday. Jarange declared his unwillingness to grant additional time to the Mahayuti government, asserting that the 'main force — the youth — hasn’t even arrived yet,' and once they do, the government would witness the impact. He reiterated that 'Nobody can stop us from getting the OBC quota,' and warned that if Marathas withdraw support from the Mahayuti, their candidates would face defeat in upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, senior minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, head of a cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, held a key meeting with Maharashtra’s Advocate General Biren Saraf, retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde, and other committee members. The discussion focused on the legal implementation of historical documents like the Hyderabad and Satara gazetteers to support the classification of Marathas as Kunbis. Post-meeting, Vikhe-Patil stated that the legal experts requested more time to study the applicability of these gazetteers, acknowledging a Supreme Court observation that Marathas and Kunbis are not the same, which cannot be overridden. Despite the complexities, he affirmed that discussions remain open to find a solution.