Move comes as government looks to woo OBC voters with the civic elections likely in the coming months. The community has been upset as the OBC strongman from Maharashtra, Bhujbal, was not administered oath during the formation of the BJP-led Devendra Fadnavis government
Chhagan Bhujbal at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday in Mumbai. Pic/Atul Kamble
The induction of veteran Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Other Backward Classes (OBC) heavyweight Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday, into the Maharashtra Cabinet is seen as a balancing act by the Mahayuti alliance ahead of the civic polls due later this year.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra government to conduct the long-pending civic polls, possibly within a four-month timeframe. This means that all 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, along with 248 nagar parishads, 42 nagar panchayats, 32 zilla parishads and 336 panchayat samitis will go for polls, which are currently under the charge of appointed administrators.
In fact, of the 29 municipal corporations, the term of more than 20 expired between 2019 and 2022. The elections for all these local bodies are due and were on hold following a petition filed in court over reservation for OBC, which have a sizable population in the state and a huge potential to influence the election results.
No wonder, now that the apex court has ordered polls, subject to the outcome of the petition hearing, the state government has quickly moved to woo the community vote bank. The community has been upset as the OBC strongman from Maharashtra, Bhujbal, was not administered oath during the formation of the BJP-led Devendra Fadnavis government.
Bhujbal had openly expressed his displeasure over being sidelined. Last year, the 77-year-old leader had created a stir in political circles with his statement: “Jaha nahin chaina, waha nahi rehna (No point staying at a palace where there is no peace).” On Tuesday, when asked about the statement he made last year, he said, “All’s well that ends well!” Speaking with the media, Fadnavis asserted that Bhujbal is the voice of OBC — a statement that underlines the importance of both, community votes and the OBC leader.
Bhujbal is said to have replaced Dhananjay Munde, who had to give up his ministership following allegations of his links with those arrested in the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukg, Massajog sarpanch, in Beed district. Following Munde’s exit, one ministerial berth from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP’s quota was lying vacant. Now that Bhujbal is inducted as Cabinet minister, it would be interesting to watch whether the ongoing tussle over the guardian ministership of Raigad and Nashik comes to an end or continues.
Bhujbal comes from Nashik, and the Ajit Pawar faction might give up their claim for guardian ministership in Raigad and instead ask for Nashik. Fadnavis had announced NCP’s Aditi Tatkare and BJP’s Girish Mahajan as guardian ministers for Raigad and Nashik, respectively. But, the move had irked Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, as its party leader Bharat Gogawale had made a claim for the Raigad district guardian ministership.
Following a tussle within the Mahayuti alliance over Raigad and Nashik, the CM cancelled both orders and since then, there has been no development. Now, whether the NCP takes Nashik and gives up the claim for Riagad, or whether the current situation continues, needs to be seen.
More about minister Chhagan Bhujbal
Chhagan Bhujbal, originally a grassroots-level Shiv Sainik, was elected as corporator, mayor of Mumbai and even as party MLA. But in 1991, when erstwhile Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray opposed the implementation of recommendations of the Mandal Commission, Bhujbal quit the party and joined Congress. Later, in 1999, when Sharad Pawar parted ways with the Congress and formed the NCP, Bhujbal joined the Maratha strongman and held deputy chief minister, home minister and several key ministerial posts in the undivided NCP. However, due to allegations of involvement in the controversial Telgi stamp paper scam, Bhujbal had to resign as the deputy chief minister. In 2016, the OBC leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, and nearly two years later, was granted bail in the case. In 2023, when Ajit Pawar decided to separate from the NCP, Bhujbal quit the Sharad Pawar camp and sided with Pawar Jr.
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