NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal criticised party president Ajit Pawar over his exclusion from the council of ministers for the second day in a row on Tuesday, and said he was not a “toy” in anyone’s hands.
Bhujbal statement came as Ajit Pawar continued to remain inaccessible to NCP workers in Nagpur, where the assembly session is on.
The NCP leader claimed that he was left out even though Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was in favour of his induction in the Cabinet
Bhujbal said his grievance was not over the Cabinet position itself, but rather the humiliation he felt from the party leadership. “My sorrow is not about the Cabinet berth but the disrespect I faced and the blow to my self-respect.”
Speaking to reporters in Nashik, Bhujbal recounted how he was encouraged to contest the Lok Sabha election in May, only for his name to never be finalised. Despite securing a victory in the Yeola assembly election, he revealed that he was recently offered a Rajya Sabha seat, which he rejected.
“I was asked to contest the Lok Sabha election from Nashik on the insistence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. I prepared for over a month. I received support from various sections. However, at the last moment, my name was not announced, and I had to withdraw from the contest,” he said.
The NCP leader said he had later expressed his desire for a Rajya Sabha seat, and was told that Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra, and Nitin Patil were being considered.
“I accepted the party’s decision then. I had said my experience would be useful in the Rajya Sabha, but I was told I was needed in Maharashtra,” he claimed.
“After contesting and winning the assembly election, I am told to move to Rajya Sabha. For this, Nitin Patil will be asked to resign. I was denied the opportunity when I wanted it. My constituents fought hard for me in this election. How can I ask them to accept my resignation now?” he questioned.
“They didn’t listen to me then, now they are giving it [Rajya Sabha seat]. Am I a toy in your hands?” the OBC leader said.
“I have confirmed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis insisted on my inclusion in the Cabinet. The chief of each party in the Mahayuti alliance decides for his party. Fadnavis for BJP, Eknath Shinde for Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar for NCP,” he added.
As Bhujbal left Nagpur for his hometown Nasik on the first day of the winter session of the assembly on Monday, he told reporters that he did not get a Cabinet berth for taking on Maratha social activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, and for standing up for the OBC community. When he was asked about his future, he cited a line from a Kishore Kumar song: “Let’s see. Jaha nahi chaina, waha nahi rehna.”
