Anjali Damania Claims She Forecasted Chhagan Bhujbal’s Political Moves Nearly a Year Ago

Mumbai, Dec 24 (NationPress) Anti-corruption advocate Anjali Damania asserted on Tuesday that she had foreseen way back in February (2024) that the prominent OBC figure from the MahaYuti ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Chhagan Bhujbal, would shift allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"I had stated that Bhujbal would join the BJP, not just today, but back in February this year…" Damania informed reporters as political conjecture intensified regarding the discontented OBC leader’s forthcoming strategy after he was excluded from the state cabinet last week.

Damania remarked that all of this was orchestrated, as they have set a political stage by denying him (Bhujbal) a cabinet position, then feigning disappointment when both Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP President Sunil Tatkare failed to meet him. Following that, he snubbed them by visiting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday (December 23).

"It was postponed... because I had tweeted about the anticipated developments 11 months ago… But now Bhujbal seems poised to join the BJP, which will gain a robust OBC representative within the party," Damania argued.

"Bhujbal on the path to BJP? Will the BJP, which once lodged a public interest litigation against Bhujbal’s corruption, elevate him as a major OBC leader? Will such corrupt individuals be promoted for political gain? Where will this sin be accounted for?" read Damania’s tweet from February 1.

Political circles are buzzing with speculation regarding Bhujbal’s next move following the recent events, especially after the party denied him a cabinet position and his meeting with Fadnavis raised eyebrows, as the BJP is keen to recruit a significant OBC leader.

Nonetheless, Bhujbal—who is planning a family vacation—has been vocal about his criticisms of the NCP, taking jabs at its senior leaders regarding how all decisions are made unilaterally by Ajit Pawar, Tatkare, and Praful Patel, yet he has refrained from indicating whether he intends to switch allegiances to the BJP.

This situation has prompted remarks from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Leader of Opposition in Council Ambadas Danve closely monitoring Bhujbal’s political maneuvers.

"Initially, Bhujbal was upset with Ajit Pawar, then he met Fadnavis, but Ajit Pawar or Tatkare didn't meet him. So, what can anyone deduce from all this…?" Danve questioned while interacting with the media.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader highlighted that it was previously suggested that Fadnavis was behind Bhujbal’s recent demonstrations, "which, considering the latest developments, may indeed be accurate."

Danve suggested that Bhujbal may have more strategies in store, as "such decisions cannot be made in a single day," and clarity is expected in the coming days.

Bhujbal, who missed the Legislature Session in Nagpur, hinted that a few days earlier, Fadnavis assured him that he would address the issue of OBC representation in his cabinet, shortly after which the two met on Monday, raising alarms within NCP circles.

Sounding assured, Bhujbal conveyed to the CM how the OBC community is displeased, and he acknowledged the entire issue, stating he would consider it, perhaps in about 10 days.