Mumbai: A day after he targeted Sharad Pawar, senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal made a surprise visit to his former party chief to discuss the vexed Marathas-vs-Other Backward Classes reservation issue and find solutions to end the crisis.
Bhujbal, who is the state’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister and President of All India Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad and held deliberations for over one-and-a-half-hours at Pawar’s Silver Oak bungalow in Pedder Road in Mumbai.
After Bhujbal went to Pawar’s residence, speculation arose about the senior politician being unhappy over being ignored during the Lok Sabha elections and not being accommodated in the Rajya Sabha either.
However, later it emerged that before meeting Pawar, Bhujbal had spoken to NCP Working President Praful Patel.
Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar and his state unit President Sunil Tatkare too were aware of the developments.
Later, Ajit Pawar, Patel, Tatkare and Bhujbal met informally over lunch.
Bhujbal had targetted Pawar, the NCP (SP) supremo, albeit without naming him a day before.
Bhujbal, at the NCP rally at Baramati, in presence of the party's top leadership, said: “Last week, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde convened an all-party meeting in Mumbai to discuss the reservation issue. Everything was fine, however, around 5 pm, someone called from Baramati and the opposition (Maha Vikas Aghadi) leaders backed out.We wanted to resolve the issue…how to sort out the issue…how justice can be given…I spoke to Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar of the Congress, I spoke to Jitendra Awhad of NCP (SP)…I also wanted Sharad Pawar Saheb to come…he is a senior leader and he can play a role in resolving the issue.”
On being asked about the meeting with Pawar, he said: “Pawar Saheb had taken a stand regarding the reservation to the OBC community…today there is a sort of misunderstanding among the Marathas and OBCs…to resolve the issue, Pawar Saheb must take a lead.”
Asked whom all he would approach to resolve the issue, he said: “I am ready to meet anyone…whether it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi….Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray. I will meet anyone.”
Bhujbal said that he would also talk within the government including Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Asked whether he would meet Maratha reservation campaigner Manoj Jarange-Patil, Bhujbal said: "I would meet anyone who understands the issue."
On the Pawar-Bhujbal meeting, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said: “It is unjust to scrutinise every interaction between two leaders and draw premature conclusions…it is the political culture of Maharashtra for leaders of various parties to hold discussions.”
Awhad said: "It is a reflection of Pawar Saheb's generosity that he allocates time to individuals who hold contrasting views, even within the public domain."