You are Correct to a large extent but the thing is that After 1707
Marathas went after Rajputs in a Big way
Rajputs had just won freedom from Mughals but Marathas marked them out for Revenge
That is because the Mughal Army had Rajput generals and soliders
Being the Strongest Indian power ; Marathas could have accomdated and
amicably worked with Rajputs and Jats
But their pride ( having destroyed Aurangzeb ) was just too big and that caused Panipat
"Rajputs are a part of Maratha’s...if they are saying things about Maratha’s its like they abusing themselves."
And ...
"Maratha empire was expanding...they were fighting off all the invaders and getting each and every caste and clan to support this cause."
And ....
"Maratha empire HAD to expand because India was being invaded by foreign rulers from all sides."
And ...
"Maratha’s did not want to rule India...they were just fighting off the invaders!"
And ...
"
See - Maratha’s were a handful of brave warriors..
They took on arms against the invaders and requested each and every citizen then to join forces..which included people from all castes, races and religions...
So any battle fought would not have exclusively Maratha army...they would have Muslims, Brahmins, Dalits et all..fighting shoulder to shoulder for the same cause."
And ...
"
After Shivaji and Sambhaji..the Maratha’s did not see a strong ruler to guide the “revolution”...and by then the Britishers had intercepted most of India...so the Marathas were just managing / trying to secure whatever was left.
Peshwas were Chattrapati’s accountants.
Maratha’s were / are egoistic hot blooded clan...so getting all Maratha’s together was a genuinely difficult challenge...and post Shivaji and Sambhaji it all boiled down to each one to his/her own..."
And ...
"And that was the fall of the Maratha regime."
Since some of you will not accept a non Hindu as a Maratha, the above is by a Hindu Maratha.
I have nothing much else to add ...
Cheers, Doc