Mumbai: The Ajit Pawar-led NCP on Wednesday denied that senior leader and minister Chhagan Bhujbal would join the Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT).
A veteran OBC leader, Bhujbal is the state Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister in the Eknath Shinde-led BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government.
On the other hand, Karjat-Jamkhed MLA Rohit Pawar, the grandson of Sharad Pawar and nephew of Baramati MP Supriya Sule, said that not only Bhujbal, but several other leaders and MLAs of the ruling alliance would leave the party.
"These reports are baseless. Bhujbal Saheb is our senior leader," state NCP President Sunil Tatkare said.
Tatkare was responding to questions that Bhujbal had met Thackeray's close aide Sanjay Raut.
Bhujbal is annoyed over the Eknath Shinde-led Maha Yuti government's handling of the Maratha reservation issue and the dilution of the OBC quota.
He was keen to contest the Nashik Lok Sabha seat, however, Shiv Sena did not concede and sitting two-time MP Hemant Godse contested the seat and lost to Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Rajabhau Waje.
Bhujbal was also trying for a Rajya Sabha berth but the NCP nominated Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar.
Rohit Pawar said that Bhujbal is an experienced leader and he knows what is coming. “Not only Bhujbal Saheb but many other leaders and MLAs would quit and join other parties. This would happen after the monsoon session,” he said.
Published 19 June 2024, 05:59 IST