Maharashtra: Chhagan Bhujbal Declines NCP's Rajya Sabha Invitation Over Ministerial Snub
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Nagpur, Dec 16 (NationPress) Veteran Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former minister Chhagan Bhujbal is expressing his discontent over the decision by party chief Ajit Pawar to exclude him from a ministerial role in the newly formed Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra Cabinet. On Monday, he declined the party’s proposal to take a seat in the Rajya Sabha, stating that such a move would constitute a betrayal to the voters of the Yevala constituency.
A visibly upset Bhujbal, who is the founder of Samata Parishad dedicated to the advancement of OBCs, remarked: "The party leadership, about seven to eight days ago, asked me to go to the Rajya Sabha. I wanted to go to the Rajya Sabha earlier, but they didn't give me a chance. They told me that I should contest the Assembly election. They also mentioned that 'the party will not win Yevala without you'. I contested and was elected with a substantial number of votes.
"However, I can't just leave now... it would be a betrayal to my voters. Accepting the Rajya Sabha position means I would have to resign from the Legislative Assembly. This is indeed disheartening for me. I cannot forsake those who supported me by voting for me in large numbers. Perhaps after a year or two, I will reconsider the Rajya Sabha option," he added.
Bhujbal also hinted that he might skip the Winter Session and head to Mumbai, citing "a lot of work" that needs his attention.
"Despite facing criticism from both sides in the assembly, I stood up for the OBCs. I fought for their cause. The MahaYuti alliance achieved a significant victory due to the Ladki Bahin Yojana and the support from the OBC community," Bhujbal stated.
He affirmed that he would persist in advocating for the OBC cause.
"I am a fighter and will continue to champion the interests of the OBCs and work towards their development,” he declared.
The NCP veteran expressed his displeasure regarding the decision to overlook him for a ministerial position in the Devendra Fadnavis council of ministers.
Previously, he served as a minister in the Eknath Shinde-led Cabinet.
Under the guidance of Ajit Pawar, Bhujbal split from Sharad Pawar and joined MahaYuti in July 2023.
Even though he feels isolated within the NCP and the MahaYuti, Bhujbal has not shied away from confronting pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, who opposes reservations for the Maratha community from the OBC quota.
Political analysts suggest that Bhujbal was a strong contender for the ministerial role in the new MahaYuti government, anticipating a reward for his advocacy of the OBC reservation issue.
His pro-OBC stance aligns with the BJP's strategy to engage OBCs ahead of the assembly elections.
Sources indicate that Bhujbal feels hurt as his dedication to the OBC cause has not received the recognition it deserves within the party.
