BACKING Ajit Pawar, who is under fire from OBC leaders for not including Chhagan Bhujbal in the state cabinet, CM Devendra Fadnavis today said the Dy CM had no intention to deliberately keep the senior NCP leader out of the cabinet. On his part, Ajit Pawar cautioned Bhujbal against creating needless misunderstanding.
”Ajit Pawar did not include Bhujbal in the cabinet, but he did not deliberately keep him out,” the CM told reporters in Pune today.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar who was also in Pune today cautioned Bhujbal against creating misunderstandings over his exclusion from the cabinet.”
“Some (read Bhujbal) are angry at not being given a berth in the state cabinet, but sometimes new people need to be given a chance. It is not right to create needless misunderstanding. We have thought about how we can give a chance to senior people at the Centre instead of giving them another chance in the state government. Ajit Pawar will never disrespect others,” Fadnavis said.
Bhujbal has drawn widespread support from OBC leaders against his exclusion from the cabinet. He is meeting them and has said he would soon decide his next course of action.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis said, ”Bhujbal is a prominent leader of Mahayuti. Leaders of all three parties respect him. He played a big hand in our victory. Ajit Pawar himself is always concerned about him. We want Bhujbal with us on the battleground.”
Fadnavis said Ajit Pawar wants Bhujbal to play a role at the national level. ”He has told me that NCP is a national party, and he wants to ensure it expands at the national level. Ajt Pawar has also told me that Bhujbal is respected in other states too, which is why he wants him to lead at a national level. However, Bhujbal has a different perspective, that’s why the problem has arisen. We will all sit and find a solution together,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, an NCP leader, said,”Chhagan Bhujbal as an OBC leader favours only his son and nephew. He can’t see any other OBC leader.”
Kokate said, ”Bhujbal today met Fadnavis and seems to have ranted and expressed his anger. I think Fadnavis will find a solution, as he believes in justice to all. There are 42 ministers in the cabinet. 16 of them are Marathas and 17 OBCs. And that is why it seems he has taken a stand to ensure equal justice for all. We have nothing to say about it.’
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