Pune: In a bid to resolve the ongoing dispute over Maratha and OBC reservations in Maharashtra, veteran leader Sharad Pawar has called for a unified approach from all political parties in the state.

He has urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to convene an all-party meeting to address the issue, emphasizing the importance of maintaining social harmony.

Pawar, speaking at a press conference in Pune, suggested that the meeting should include prominent figures such as Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil and leaders representing the OBC community.

Sharad Pawar stated, "Everyone should take care to maintain the social harmony in Maharashtra. Steps should be taken to ensure that bitterness does not arise between the two communities.

If timely action is not taken, it is difficult to predict what might happen. I have suggested a solution and discussed this with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Through you (the media), I suggest that the Chief Minister call for an all-party meeting. He should invite those whom he deems appropriate. We, as the opposition, will attend the meeting and our stance will be cooperative. The Chief Minister should invite the leaders of the parties he considers important.

Moreover, he should invite Manoj Jarange Patil, who has worked tirelessly to bring this issue to the forefront, to the meeting. Another issue is the OBC reservation.

Those leading the OBC factions should also be invited to the meeting. We should have a comprehensive discussion in that joint meeting and find a way forward.

The courts have ruled that the state government does not have the authority to grant reservations exceeding 50%. Therefore, the central government should take a stance to increase the reservation limit. We will support this without any opposition. This is the way to move forward and secure the reservations," Pawar stated.