Lagatar24 Desk
Nashik: Upset over being excluded from the recent Cabinet expansion, senior NCP legislator Chhagan Bhujbal lashed out at party President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Working President Praful Patel on Tuesday, asking whether he was a “toy in their hands.”
Bhujbal, who skipped the ongoing Winter Session of the Maharashtra Assembly, met his supporters in Nashik and expressed his dissatisfaction over not being inducted into the Cabinet despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly backing his inclusion.
“Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel had said they would discuss my inclusion in the Cabinet. But they neither spoke to me nor did anyone from their offices call. Am I a toy in their hands?” Bhujbal questioned. He added that he would soon consult his supporters across the state to decide his future course of action.
Bhujbal rejected a proposal to move to the Rajya Sabha, stating it would betray the trust of voters in his Yevala constituency. “I contested and won the election for the Assembly. My workers risked their lives for my victory. How can I now tell them that I will resign?” he said.
The veteran leader clarified that he would not resign immediately, adding, “I told them I would consider leaving after two years, but they refused to discuss it further.”
Bhujbal took a swipe at Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel, saying, “Chhagan Bhujbal is not someone who will sit if told to sit or stand if told to stand. I will find out who decided to keep me out of the Cabinet.”
He further revealed that Union Minister Amit Shah had earlier encouraged him to contest the Lok Sabha election from Nashik but lamented that the party delayed the announcement, forcing him to withdraw.
The Cabinet snub has sparked discontent within Bhujbal’s supporters, who feel the veteran leader’s contributions to the party have been overlooked.
