Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Shivaji had to face opposition from the big Deshmukhs.
Reason (R): These Deshmjikhs were not in favour of an independent Maratha State and wanted to remain as feudal lords of Bijapur.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Explanation

Shivaji I (19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian ruler and the founder of the Maratha Empire. A member of the Bhonsle dynasty, he carved out an independent kingdom from the Sultanate of Bijapur, laying the foundation for what later evolved into the Maratha Confederacy.

In 1674, Shivaji was crowned as Chhatrapati at Raigad, despite opposition from some local Brahmins. Many powerful Deshmukhs (local feudal lords) in the Deccan resisted his authority, as his rise threatened their autonomy and dominance.

While some Deshmukhs were aligned with the Bijapur Sultanate, others were reluctant to surrender their regional power to Shivaji’s centralized administration.