Mumbai witnessed major disruption on Friday as Manoj Jarange’s Maratha quota protest reached the city. Thousands of protesters gathered near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), leading to massive traffic jams in South Mumbai. Several buses and vehicles were stuck for hours during the morning rush. The protest also spilled over to the railways, with local trains on the Harbour and Central lines overcrowded as protesters and office-goers rushed towards CSMT. Platforms were jam-packed, causing significant inconvenience for daily commuters heading towards Nariman Point, Fort, Kalbadevi, and Crawford Market.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on 26th January reached Navi Mumbai in the morning, with thousands of supporters in an attempt to push for reservation for the Maratha community. Later in the day, there were reports that the Maratha reservation rally was headed towards Azad Maidan in Mumbai. The protesters, led by Jarange, had intended to begin a hunger strike at Azad Maidan, seeking Kunbi (OBC) status for the Maratha community. However, now he and his supporters would enter Mumbai on Saturday for their planned protest at Azad Maidan ground if their demands were not met by tonight as warned by Manoj Jarange. "I am taking a step backward," the 40-year-old activist said, adding that he had stopped having food from Friday and was taking only water. If an ordinance (to meet his various demands) is not promulgated tonight, I will come to Mumbai tomorrow," he said.