Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, disappointed at not being included in the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, has claimed he was offered a Rajya Sabha berth eight days ago but he rejected it.
Talking to reporters here on Monday, Bhujbal, legislator from Yeola in Nashik district, said he turned down the proposal for the Rajya Sabha seat as it would amount to betrayal with his assembly constituency he won in the state polls last month.
When I wanted to be in the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, I was told that I should fight the assembly elections. I was offered the Rajya Sabha berth eight days ago which I rejected. I said I could consider the Rajya Sabha option after one or two years but not immediately," the former state minister added.
Bhujbal said he hadn't spoken to NCP head and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar after being denied the state cabinet berth.
A prominent OBC leader, Bhujbal claimed he had been excluded from the cabinet because he took on activist Manoj Jarange, who has been demanding reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education.
I stood up for the Other Backward Classes community when the Maratha quota activist was demanding its inclusion in the OBC category. The Ladki Bahin scheme and OBCs helped the Mahayuti win the elections," he said.
Asked about his future course, Bhujbal, who left for Nashik after the assembly session proceedings in Nagpur were adjourned for the day on Monday, said, “Let’s see. Jahan nahi chaina, wahan nahi rehna.” Bhujbal, who served as the food and civil supplies minister in the previous Mahayuti government, said he was upset at not being included in the new cabinet.
"I am an ordinary political worker. It doesn't matter if I am sidelined or rewarded," he said.
"Ministerial berths come and go, but I cannot be finished off," the NCP leader added.
The swearing in was conducted in the first expansion of Devendra Fadnavis led Maharashtra Government; the new ministers included all the allies of Mahayuti that includes BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP 39 Legislators who were sworn on Sunday. Ten former ministers are not included in this list. There are also 16 new faces.
Former ministers Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil of the NCP and Sudhir Mungantiwar and Vijaykumar Gavit of the BJP were some prominent leaders who did not make it.
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