Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday took oath as a minister in the Maharashtra government. Bhujbal had been sulking for some time as he had not been included as a minister when the government was formed after elections in 2024.
After Munde's resignation, there had been no strong OBC leader in the state cabinet. Chhagan Bhujbal is among the tallest OBC leaders in the country today and he is certainly the topmost in Maharashtra among OBC leaders. His inclusion in the state cabinet will also be a message to OBC communities that the government is serious in its handling of their aspirations.
आज मुंबईतील राजभवन येथे मंत्रीपदाची शपथ घेतल्यानंतर मंत्रालयात राज्याचे उपमुख्यमंत्री तथा राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पार्टीचे अध्यक्ष मा. अजितदादा पवार यांच्या दालनात मंत्रिमंडळ पूर्व बैठक पार पडली यावेळी त्यांनी पुष्पगुच्छ देऊन माझे अभिनंदन केले, याबद्दल त्यांचे व उपस्थितांचे आभार… pic.twitter.com/r7ZDTJDpAW
— Chhagan Bhujbal (@ChhaganCBhujbal) May 20, 2025
With his inclusion in the cabinet, Bhujbal and the NCP will now expect that the post of guardian minister of Nashik be given to NCP as Bhujbal represents Yeola constituency from Nashik. At present there is a dispute over the post of guardian minister for Nashik and Raigad districts. NCP has staked claim on both the districts .
However, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is keen to have minister Bharat Gogavale as guardian minister of Raigad while BJP wants its minister Girish Mahajan as guardian minister of Nashik.
Inclusion of Bhujbal also strengthens the lobby in the NCP, which eagerly awaiting the coming together of both NCP factions. Bhujbal has always been of the opinion that Sharad Pawar group should reunite with Ajit Pawar group as that will make the party stronger in the government and across the state.
