Is Chhagan Bhujbal quitting Ajit Pawar's NCP? OBC leader's public outcry sets off speculation

Chhagan Bhujbal

Strong public expression of displeasure by senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal over his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra cabinet has set off speculation regarding the senior leader's possible exit from Ajit Pawar's NCP.

One of the seniormost politicians in the state, Bhujbal (77) is a two-time MLA from Mazgaon in Mumbai and five-term MLA from Yeola in Nashik besides serving a term as an MLC.

A day after the Maharashtra cabinet expansion, visibly disturbed Bhujbal, speaking to reporters he rejected the Rajya Sabha seat proposal seven days ago as it would amount to betrayal with his assembly constituency which he won in the state polls last month.

What added to the ongoing speculation is Bhujbal suddenly leaving for his hometown, Nashik. As the winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly commenced on Monday, he left the state legislature in Nagpur and returned to Nashik.

Before leaving for Nashik, Bhujbal said the denial of a Cabinet berth was a gift to him for taking on Maratha social activist Manoj Jarange-Patil. Bhujbal, a senior Other Backward Class (OBC) leader, had opposed Manoj Jarange-Patil’s demand of OBC status to all Marathas, which had led to a very public face-off between the two. “...haan...main naraz hoon (yes…I am upset)…toh kya karu (what shall I do),” said Bhujbal.

The party leadership reportedly did try to pacify him with a Rajya Sabha position but he refused to accept it, according to him.

“Seven to eight days ago, I was asked to go to Rajya Sabha,” he said. “But when I had sought to go to Rajya Sabha the seat was given to a leader from Satara (Rajya Sabha polls held in August) and I was told that I should contest the assembly polls to consolidate the OBC vote. Accepting the Rajya Sabha offer now and resigning as an MLA would be a betrayal of those who voted for me.”