7xm Chhagan Bhujbal Meets CM Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar Reacts To Bhujbal’s Cabinet Snub

Chhagan Bhujbal meets CM Devendra Fadnavis. Photo: X Chhagan Bhujbal meets CM Devendra Fadnavis. Photo: X

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal7xm, who has been sulking over his exclusion from the newly formed Maharashtra cabinet, met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday to discuss political and social issues. 

The meeting was held at Fadnavis’s residence in Mumbai and lasted nearly 30 minutes. Chhagan Bhujbal's nephew, Sameer Bhujbal, also attended the meeting.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bhujbal revealed that the discussions with Fadnavis focused on the prevailing political and social climate in the state, particularly concerning the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

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“Fadnavis told me that the Other Backward Classes have played an important role in the landslide victory of the Mahayuti in the assembly elections (held on November 20) and he will take care that the OBC community's interest is not harmed,” PTI quoted Chhagan Bhujbal.

Bhujbal, who has been a vocal critic of certain political developments, stated that the Chief Minister also indicated that he would take some time to deliberate on issues concerning OBCs and promised to arrive at some decision within 10 to 12 days.

“We discussed the situation of the OBC community, and Fadnavis assured me that their interests will not be ignored,” Bhujbal said, hinting at the ongoing conflict over demands for Maratha reservations in the OBC category. 

The NCP leader himself has been an ardent opponent of activist Manoj Jarange’s calls for granting the Maratha community quotas under the OBC category.

The meeting comes amidst growing tensions within Bhujbal’s own party, the NCP.

Growing tensions within Mahayuti over cabinet snub

A prominent OBC leader and MLA from Yevla in Nashik district, Bhujbal was notably absent from the Maharashtra state legislature’s winter session, which concluded in Nagpur on Saturday. He left for Nashik on the first day of the session, a day after 39 Mahayuti MLAs were sworn in as ministers. His absence has sparked intense speculation about his future in the party and the alliance.

In a recent statement, Bhujbal lashed out at NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel, accusing them of failing to keep their promises of discussing a ministerial berth. 

“Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel had said they would talk to me about a ministerial position, but no one from their offices reached out. I am not a toy in their hands,” Bhujbal said.

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Bhujbal’s exclusion from the cabinet has not only fueled his personal grievances but has also ignited broader political tensions. He claimed that his nomination for a cabinet post had been approved by Fadnavis, but his NCP colleagues blocked it. Bhujbal further alleged that state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule had confirmed that Fadnavis had tried to push for his inclusion, but party politics ultimately overruled the decision.

Ajit Pawar’s response to Bhujbal’s cabinet snub

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Ajit Pawar, the NCP’s deputy chief minister in the new government, responded to Bhujbal’s complaints with a pointed remark, saying, “Sometimes new people have to be given a chance. It is not right to create misunderstandings.” 

Pawar indicated that Bhujbal might be considered for a central government position instead, hinting at a possible role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. 

“Some people are expressing anger because they were not taken in the cabinet... but sometimes new people have to be given a chance. It is not right to unnecessarily create misunderstandings... we have also thought about how we can give a chance to (senior) people at the centre instead of giving them another chance (in the state government). Ajit Pawar will never disrespect others... but sometimes it is not right to unnecessarily create misunderstandings,” Pawar said.

Despite these attempts at damage control, Bhujbal’s supporters have shown signs of unrest, with some expressing sympathy for the sidelined leader. On Sunday, OBC community representatives from various parts of Maharashtra gathered in Mumbai to meet Bhujbal, expressing shock at his exclusion and offering their support.

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