'Naraz hoon': Chhagan Bhujbal upset after being denied ministerial berth in Maharashtra Cabinet

One of the seniormost politicians in the state, Bhujbal (77) is a two-time MLA from Mazgaon in Mumbai and five-term MLA from Yeola in Nashik, besides having served a term as an MLC.

Mumbai: Miffed over being denied a berth in the new Maharashtra Cabinet, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal Monday left Nagpur for his hometown Nashik on the first day of the Winter Session of the state legislature.

Before leaving for Nashik, Bhujbal said the denial of a Cabinet berth was a gift to him for taking on Maratha social activist Manoj Jarange-Patil.

Bhujbal, a senior Other Backward Class (OBC) leader, had opposed Manoj Jarange-Patil’s demand of granting OBC status to all Marathas, which had led to a very public face-off between the two.

“...haan...main naraz hoon (yes…I am upset)…toh kya karu (what shall I do),” said Bhujbal.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is the NCP President, has not spoken on the issue.

Bhujbal, an influential leader from the Mali community, spoke out in public against the party's decision though he did not name Pawar, with whom he sided during the rebellion against Sharad Pawar.

"I may or may not have been given ministerial posts (in the past) but Chhagan Bhujbal is not finished,” he told reporters in Nagpur on Monday.

One of the seniormost politicians in the state, Bhujbal (77) is a two-time MLA from Mazgaon in Mumbai and five-term MLA from Yeola in Nashik besides serving a term as an MLC.

The veteran OBC leader, who had also served as Deputy Chief Minister in the erstwhile Congress-NCP Democratic Front government, is also the founder-President of Akhil Bharatiya Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad.

In the erstwhile Maha Vikas Ahgadi government and the previous Maha Yuti government, Bhujbal was the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister.

Asked about his future course, Bhujbal said: “Let me see. Let me think it over. I will talk to my constituency and discuss with the Samata Parishad.'

“Whom to include in the ministry is the decision of the party leaders. They (party leaders) told us that senior leaders were not included to give a chance to new people,” however, quipped to add: “I feel I have been rewarded…(for challenging Manoj Jarange-Patil)….I am an ordinary worker, what difference does it make if I am ignored or thrown out?”.

Asked whether he had spoken to Pawar or he had received a call, he said: "Ask them."

Reacting to the development, NCP MLC and spokesperson Amol Mitkari, said: “We don’t think so…if anyone is upset, it can be addressed in party forums. As far as Bhujbal is concerned, we heard it in the media…we also heard reports that he would be sent to Rajya Sabha.”

Mitkari, who is close to Pawar, said: “From BJP also Sudhir Mungantiwar is not there in the ministry and so as Deepak Kesarkar of Shiv Sena…being upset is common.”