Chhagan Bhujbal demands equal justice after missing Rajya Sabha nomination
Synopsis
Chhagan Bhujbal didn't deny being passed over — he reframed it. By invoking the Pawars, Shindes, and Patils, Maharashtra's veteran NCP minister made a pointed argument: political dynasties are standard practice, and his request for the same treatment was simply fair. The real story is what his restraint signals about coalition arithmetic in Maharashtra.
Key Takeaways
Chhagan Bhujbal acknowledged seeking the Rajya Sabha nomination and requesting a cabinet berth for nephew Sameer Bhujbal .
He cited parallel arrangements for the Pawar , Shinde , and Patil families to argue he sought equal treatment.
BJP reportedly said Sameer Bhujbal 's cabinet induction would be considered at the next state cabinet expansion.
After Bhujbal stepped back, NCP Working President Praful Patel recommended Rajendra Jain , who was cleared by the core committee and Parth Pawar .
The Rajya Sabha election is scheduled for 18 June .
Veteran Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday, 8 June dismissed suggestions that he had been wronged by his party, while simultaneously asserting that he deserved the same treatment extended to other senior leaders. His remarks came after party nominee Rajendra Jain filed nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for 18 June.
What Bhujbal Said
Bhujbal openly acknowledged that he had sought the Rajya Sabha nomination for himself and had additionally requested that his nephew and former MP Sameer Bhujbal be inducted into the state cabinet in his place. He drew pointed comparisons with other political families in Maharashtra to argue his case.
'NCP legislator Makrand Patil is a minister in the state cabinet, while his brother Nitin Patil is a Rajya Sabha member. Sunetra Pawar is Deputy Chief Minister, while her son Parth Pawar is in the Rajya Sabha. Eknath Shinde is DCM, while his son Shrikant Shinde is in the Lok Sabha. So I also desired that if I get the Rajya Sabha nomination, then my nephew Sameer Bhujbal can be inducted into the state cabinet. I desired the same justice as others received,' he said.
On the BJP's Role
Bhujbal pushed back against reports that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had rejected his proposal outright, offering a more measured account of events. He said that by the time his proposal reached the BJP, only a single day remained for a decision, and the party responded that Sameer Bhujbal's cabinet induction would be taken up during the next state cabinet expansion. 'It is untrue that the BJP rejected it,' he clarified.
Bhujbal's Characteristic Response
When pressed directly on whether he had faced injustice, Bhujbal responded with characteristic pragmatism. 'What injustice? This is how things go now. Our policy is — if not today, then tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then the day after. I am a kabaddi player, not a chess player,' he remarked, signalling patience rather than confrontation.
He nonetheless reiterated his core argument: 'Other leaders are in the Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha, and their children are ministers here in the state. I have been at the forefront of building the NCP since its inception. Therefore, my demand was simply that I should receive the same justice.'
How Rajendra Jain Got the Nomination
Notably, after Bhujbal stepped back when his condition of a ministerial berth for Sameer Bhujbal could not be met in time, NCP Working President Praful Patel recommended his close confidant Rajendra Jain for the Rajya Sabha seat. The name was cleared by the party's core committee and, specifically, by Parth Pawar. The episode underlines the transactional dynamics at play within Maharashtra's ruling coalition ahead of the 18 June vote.
Point of View
Not chess player' line is diplomatic cover for a genuine grievance. His comparison — Sunetra Pawar as DCM while Parth Pawar holds a Rajya Sabha seat, Eknath Shinde as DCM while Shrikant Shinde sits in the Lok Sabha — is factually grounded and difficult to dismiss. The episode exposes the informal quid-pro-quo logic that governs coalition seat distribution in Maharashtra, where family patronage is a recognised currency. What mainstream coverage misses is the signal in Bhujbal's restraint: a leader of his vintage publicly accepting the outcome while putting his grievance on record is a calculated move, not a concession. The BJP's 'next expansion' promise is the kind of deferral that can be honoured or quietly forgotten — and Bhujbal knows it.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Chhagan Bhujbal not get the Rajya Sabha nomination?
Bhujbal stepped back from the Rajya Sabha race after he could not secure a simultaneous cabinet berth for his nephew Sameer Bhujbal before the nomination deadline. The BJP indicated that Sameer's induction would be considered at the next state cabinet expansion, but that assurance came too late for the current election cycle.
Who is the NCP's Rajya Sabha candidate for the 18 June election?
Rajendra Jain , a close confidant of NCP Working President Praful Patel , filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha election scheduled on 18 June . His name was cleared by the party's core committee and by Parth Pawar .
What comparisons did Bhujbal make to justify his demand?
Bhujbal pointed to three parallel arrangements within the ruling coalition: NCP's Makrand Patil serving as state minister while his brother Nitin Patil holds a Rajya Sabha seat; Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister while her son Parth Pawar is in the Rajya Sabha; and Eknath Shinde as DCM while his son Shrikant Shinde is a Lok Sabha member.
Did the BJP reject Bhujbal's proposal for Sameer Bhujbal's cabinet induction?
Bhujbal denied that the BJP outright rejected the proposal. He said the BJP received it with only one day left to decide and responded that Sameer Bhujbal's cabinet induction would be taken up during the next state cabinet expansion.
What is Chhagan Bhujbal's current position in Maharashtra politics?
Chhagan Bhujbal is a veteran NCP leader and serving Maharashtra state minister. He has been associated with the NCP since its inception and remains a prominent OBC voice within the party and the ruling Mahayuti coalition.
