Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Proposes Chhagan Bhujbal for National Role Within NCP
Mumbai, 25th December 2024: On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis suggested that senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former state minister Chhagan Bhujbal could be elevated to a national role. Fadnavis mentioned that NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar envisioned making NCP a national party.
Bhujbal, a prominent figure among Maharashtra’s OBC community, had expressed dissatisfaction over his exclusion from the new Mahayuti government.
Fadnavis told reporters, “Bhujbal met me in Mumbai, and he already explained the purpose of his visit. He is an important leader, and Ajit Pawar has great regard for him. Ajit Pawar wants the NCP to grow into a national party, which is why the possibility of sending Bhujbal to the national stage was discussed.”
Earlier, Bhujbal, along with his nephew Sameer Bhujbal, had a 30-minute meeting with Fadnavis at the Sagar bungalow in Mumbai. Bhujbal shared that Fadnavis acknowledged the vital role played by OBCs in the Mahayuti’s decisive victory in the assembly elections. “Fadnavis assured me that the interests of the OBC community will be safeguarded,” Bhujbal said.
Fadnavis also expressed his intention to address the concerns of the OBC community in the state, and Bhujbal mentioned that the CM would take time to consider their issues. OBC leaders, including Bhujbal, are opposing the demand by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange to include Marathas in the OBC (Kunbi) category.
Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar referred to Bhujbal’s meeting with Fadnavis as an “internal party issue,” signalling his displeasure. “We will resolve this within our party,” the Deputy CM stated.
The previous week, Fadnavis oversaw a reshuffle of the Mahayuti cabinet, which sparked discontent among some former ministers from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. Bhujbal was among the 10 ministers excluded from the new council, which saw 16 new appointments. The Mahayuti secured a massive victory in the November assembly elections, winning 230 out of 288 seats.
