I will consult people from my constituency: Chhagan Bhujbal on denied ministerial berth

Nagpur: NCP (AP) MLA and former State Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday (December 16) expressed his displeasure after he was denied a berth in the State Cabinet.

He is in Nagpur for the State Legislature’s Winter Session. Bhujbal said, “I was told that senior ministers were dropped and new faces were given ministerial berths. I am a common worker. I will discuss the issue with my workers and people from my constituency.

“I am a common worker who can be treated in any manner, which does not make much difference. I have been a minister many times. I was out of power also. But my career never ended… I will ask them why they decided to keep me out. I did not feel the need to speak to Ajit Pawar. I will speak to the people from my assembly segment and workers of the Samata Parishad.”

He regretted that it was a ‘reward’ given to him for taking on Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil. He added, “I fought for the OBCs and united them. The Maha Yuti was successful due to the OBCs support and the Ladki Bahin Yojana. I do not know why I was not made a minister. You better ask them who denied me one. I was told that new faces were given an opportunity.”

Reacting to the denial of a ministership to Bhujbal, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, “I thought that there would be a senior leader of the OBCs in the State Cabinet. Unfortunately, Bhujbal has been denied his place in the Cabinet.”

Workers unhappy

NCP (AP) OBC Division Mumbai President Baban Madne said, “Chhagan Bhujbal never opposed a quota for the Marathas. But he was purposely targeted through quota activist Manoj Jarange. The political atmosphere in the State was being vitiated against the Maha Yuti through propaganda.

“In this backdrop, Bhujbal persuaded the OBCs to stand firmly behind the Maha Yuti. He and Gopichand Padalkar persuaded the OBCs about the pro-OBC stand of the Maha Yuti government. Padalkar has also been denied a berth. This will displease the Dhangar community and OBC workers.”