In an effort to mitigate escalating caste tensions in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Minister Chhagan Bhujbal held an unscheduled meeting with NCP President Sharad Pawar on Monday. This unexpected meeting has stirred significant political speculation.

In a fervent declaration, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange has issued a stern ultimatum to the Maharashtra government, asserting that he will initiate a hunger strike from June 5 if the long-pending demands for reservation benefits for the Maratha community are not met.

The MNS chief further said that the party will decide its strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls later, and he would share more thoughts about it during the party's Gudi Padwa meeting on April 9. 

"Although I am suspending my agitation (hunger strike) today, there will be 3 to 4 youths who will sit here and fast every day for our demands. I will also visit some villages and explain my stand to them. They could not come to meet me here (at Antarwali Sarati village) because of restrictions imposed by the home department," he said.