Amid growing buzz over his ‘exit’ from NCP, Bhujbal keeps Mahayuti, MVA on tenterhooks

Maharashtra civil supplies minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal is known in state political circles as a firebrand who often speaks his mind. Bhujbal seems to be again keeping his party and the Mahayuti coalition guessing, this time over the Maratha quota issue as well as the Rajya Sabha nomination for party chief Ajit Pawar’s wife Suntera.

The speculation about Bhujbal’s exit from his party amid reports of rising tension among the Mahayuti partners – including the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit-led NCP – after the NDA’s poor show in the recent Lok Sabha polls appears to be adding to the ruling camp's troubles in the run-up to the state Assembly polls slated for October this year.

Meanwhile, fuelling the buzz, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray referred to reports about Bhujbal's possible exit during his address at his party’s foundation day event Wednesday.

Even as Bhujbal, seen as one of the tallest OBC leaders of the state, has denied any such moves, his statements on being denied the Rajya Sabha berth by the NCP and his opposition to the inclusion of Marathas in the OBC category have left the Mahayuti leaders red-faced.

“I am not upset. While working in a political party you have to make collective decisions. Everything does not happen as per one’s wish… There were many aspirants (for a Rajya Sabha berth) but only one can get the nomination. I am not an Independent that I will go by my wish. As a party worker, a party leader, one has to abide by the party’s decision. Sometimes the party faces some compulsions,” Bhujbal had said while dispelling rumours that he was upset over Sunetra’s nomination.

Earlier this week, at a meeting of its supporters, the Bhujbal-headed Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad – an umbrella organisation of the OBC organisations – decided to press for a caste survey – a move which is likely to deepen the fissures between the Mahayuti partners. In the past, Ajit Pawar too has demanded a caste survey on the lines of the one conducted in Bihar by CM and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar.

Besides, Bhujbal's position has been at odds with the BJP-led NDA's stand on several issues. He said publicly that the NDA’s “400 paar” pitch ahead of the Lok Sabha polls hurt its prospects. He also came out in support of Uddhav when the BJP blamed him for the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse that killed nine people. He also opposed a government proposal to include Manusmriti in the state schools.

Bhujbal had begun his political journey with the undivided Sena under Bal Thackeray and rose through the ranks with his good organisational and oratorical skills. He served as the Mayor of Mumbai twice and later went on to become a legislator.

After being denied the post of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly and miffed over the Shiv Sena’s stand on reservation in the post-Mandal period, Bhujbal challenged Thackeray’s leadership and joined the Congress in 1991. Upset over his exit, the Sena went out of its way to ensure his defeat by a party worker Bala Nandgaonkar from Mazgaon in the 1995 Assembly polls. However, he was later made the LoP in the Legislative Council, where he trained his guns on then Sena leader Raj Thackeray over the Ramesh Kini murder case.

It was then that he started projecting himself as an OBC leader in the state through his Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad. He later joined Sharad Pawar when he left the Congress to float the NCP.

In 1999, Bhujbal was elevated to the post of Deputy CM in the Congress-NCP government and as the then home minister he ordered the arrest of his former mentor Thackeray in a case related to an article in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna about the 1992-93 Mumbai riots. He was forced to resign after his name cropped up in the multi-crore fake stamp paper case.

Bhujbal then shifted his base to Nashik, where his fortune grew – from a small room in Mazgaon to a huge farm in Nashik and educational institutions like MET.

After he got a clean chit in the stamp paper case, he made a political comeback and was made the Deputy CM again in 2008. He again pursued OBC politics but did not let it affect his position in the NCP this time.

After the ouster of the Congress-NCP government in 2014, Bhujbal, who lost his election too, faced allegations of corruption in the Maharashtra Sadan case. He was subsequently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and was incarcerated in prison for two years.

Bhujbal made another comeback in 2019, when he became one of the first two NCP ministers to be sworn-in in the Uddhav-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Seen to be a staunch Sharad Pawar loyalist, Bhujbal surprised everyone when he jumped ship and sided with Ajit in July 2023, when the latter split the party.

He again became a minister in the Mahayuti government being steered by the BJP, in whose tenure he was jailed.

Bhujbal strongly opposed Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil's campaign and led counter protest rallies across the state. He slammed his own government over the issue but did not resign.

For the latest news from across India, Political updates, Explainers, Sports News, Opinion, Entertainment Updates and more Top News, visit Indian Express. Subscribe to our award-winning Newsletter Download our App here Android & iOS