Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal met with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at his residence on Monday to seek his intervention regarding the ongoing Maratha quota issue and objections raised by OBC leaders.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bhujbal mentioned, “I had a discussion with Mr. Pawar for nearly one and a half hours. He assured me that he would talk to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other leaders within the next two days to address the matter.”
Bhujbal, an OBC leader from the faction of the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, visited Sharad Pawar at his ‘Silver Oak’ residence in Mumbai. This meeting followed Bhujbal’s criticism of the opposition’s boycott of an all-party meeting on the Maratha quota issue.
Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes the Congress, NCP (SP), and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), did not attend the all-party meeting convened by CM Shinde on July 9. They claimed the opposition was not consulted regarding the Maratha reservation issue. Bhujbal alleged that the opposition leaders abstained from the meeting after receiving a phone call from Baramati, Sharad Pawar’s stronghold, at 5 pm on the same day.
Activist Manoj Jarange has been demanding reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Recently, some OBC activists protested, seeking assurance that their quota would remain unaffected.
After the meeting, Bhujbal stated, “I requested Sharad Pawar to look into this matter because the situation in the state, especially in some districts, is very tense. The division between the Marathas and OBCs has reached such a level that they are not even dining at each other’s hotels.”
Pawar agreed to take the initiative and discuss the issue with CM Shinde and other key state leaders. Bhujbal also reminded Pawar of his tenure as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister when he implemented the Mandal Commission’s recommendations, granting OBCs reservation in education and local elections.
“Pawar resolved OBC issues when he was the Chief Minister. Now, the situation demands his intervention again. Pawar also mentioned that he needs a couple of days to recuperate as he is currently unwell,” Bhujbal added.
The minister noted that he had to wait for nearly one and a half hours at Pawar’s residence as the veteran politician was resting due to illness. They eventually had their discussion in Pawar’s bedroom.
Sources within the NCP suggested that Bhujbal feels politically isolated within Ajit Pawar’s faction of the party. However, state minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar remarked that it is customary for political leaders in Maharashtra to engage in discussions, regardless of ideological differences, and advised against reading too much into such interactions.
NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad praised Sharad Pawar’s willingness to engage with individuals holding differing views. “It is a reflection of Sharad Pawar’s generosity that he allocates time to individuals with contrasting views,” he said.
