Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange initiated a hunger strike in Mumbai, vowing to persist until the Maharashtra Government grants the Maratha community reservation under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. Terming it 'a final fight,' Jarange threatened to cease consuming water within two days, declaring his readiness to sacrifice his life and refusing to leave Mumbai until the demand is met. He warned of a massive influx of Maratha supporters into the city if the reservation issue remained unresolved.

The protest, which began with Jarange's march from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district, saw thousands of supporters, adorned in saffron caps, scarves, and flags, gather at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. Mumbai police initially granted permission for a peaceful protest, later extending it for a day. The large gathering led to significant traffic congestion at CSMT, prompting Central Railway to advise essential travel only. Jarange criticized the government for these 'games' of one-day extensions, urging them instead to announce reservations and win the hearts of the poor Marathas.

Jarange's core demand is for all Marathas to be recognized as Kunbis, an agrarian caste already included in the OBC category, which would make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education. He explicitly stated that the Maratha community is not seeking to diminish the existing OBC quota but rather claiming what they believe is their right. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas visited Jarange at Azad Maidan, promising to discuss the matter with the Chief Minister for a suitable solution.

Meanwhile, the agitation has drawn varied political reactions. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis affirmed the state government's commitment to the socio-economic upliftment of Marathas but stressed that it would not succumb to political pressure for 'unreasonable demands' that might harm OBCs. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticized the MahaYuti government for allegedly deceiving the Maratha community in the past, urging immediate dialogue with Jarange.

The intensity of the protest escalated further when NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule faced the anger of Maratha protestors during her visit to Azad Maidan. Her vehicle was reportedly attacked by agitated demonstrators, who accused party supremo Sharad Pawar of neglecting their concerns. Security personnel had to clear the way for her vehicle, with some protestors allegedly attempting to throw a water bottle. BJP MLC Praveen Darekar attributed the anger to Sharad Pawar's perceived inaction on the Maratha quota issue during his past tenures. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the incident, emphasizing that leaders visiting protest sites should be treated with dignity.

By Sunday, Jarange issued a stern warning: if the reservation is not granted, community members from across Maharashtra would join the protest by the following weekend. He announced a further intensification of his agitation, stating he would refuse to consume water starting Monday, as the deadlock showed no signs of resolution. He accused the Mahayuti government of ignoring the community's demands, declaring that the 'main force — the youth — hasn't even arrived yet,' and reiterated, 'All Marathas must be given Kunbi certificates. Nobody can stop us from getting the OBC quota.'

Addressing opposition from some OBC leaders, Jarange asserted the political influence of Marathas, warning that if they withdraw support, not even a gram panchayat member from the Mahayuti alliance would get elected. This, he suggested, could lead to the defeat of Mahayuti candidates in both village and municipal elections. In response to the ongoing demands, senior minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who heads a cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, held a key meeting with Maharashtra’s Advocate General Biren Saraf and retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde. The discussion focused on the legal applicability of the Hyderabad and Satara gazetteers – historical documents that might support the classification of Marathas as Kunbis. Vikhe-Patil noted that the legal experts requested more time to study the gazetteers and acknowledged a Supreme Court observation that Marathas and Kunbis are not the same, stating, 'We cannot override this. However, we remain open to discussions as a solution must be found.'