NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal says he rejected RS seat offer week before Maharashtra Cabinet expansion

Chhagan Bhujbal, NCP leader, rejected Rajya Sabha seat offer, expresses disappointment at exclusion from Maharashtra cabinet.

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is disappointed at not being included in the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, has claimed he was offered a Rajya Sabha berth eight days ago but he rejected it.

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Talking to reporters in Nagpur on Monday (December 16, 2024), Mr. Bhujbal, the legislator from Yeola in Nashik district, said he rejected the Rajya Sabha seat proposal as it would amount to betrayal with his assembly constituency which he won in the State polls last month.

"When I wanted to be in the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, I was told that I should fight the assembly elections. I was offered the Rajya Sabha berth eight days ago which I rejected. I said I could consider the Rajya Sabha option after one or two years but not immediately," the former state minister added.

Mr. Bhujbal said he had not spoken to NCP head and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar after being denied the State Cabinet berth.

A prominent OBC leader, Mr. Bhujbal claimed he had been excluded from the Cabinet because he took on activist Manoj Jarange, who has been demanding reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education.

"I stood up for the Other Backward Classes community when the Maratha quota activist was demanding its inclusion in the OBC category. The Ladki Bahin scheme and OBCs helped the Mahayuti win the elections," he said.