Is Chhagan Bhujbal Upset Over Rajya Sabha Snub After Sunetra Pawar Gets Ticket? NCP Leader Responds

Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal revealed on Friday his desire to become a Member of Parliament, expressing his intent to contest the recent Lok Sabha elections from Nashik. Bhujbal also showed interest in a Rajya Sabha nomination, amidst speculation of his dissatisfaction over recent party decisions.

Responding to queries about his purported discontent following the nomination of Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar, for the Rajya Sabha, Bhujbal did not directly address if he felt wronged by the decision. Instead, he suggested that the question of perceived injustice should be directed to “them”, news agency PTI reported

“It is my desire (to become an MP). That is why I was ready to contest from the Nashik Lok Sabha seat. As I had been told that my ticket was finalised in Delhi, I had started working, but when the decision (to announce the name) dragged on for a month, I stopped as there was enough humiliation,” Bhujbal stated, as quoted by PTI. He noted that Hemant Godse of the Shiv Sena, NCP’s ally in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, was also vying for the Nashik ticket. Ultimately, the seat was won by Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Rajabhau Waje.

Bhujbal remarked that not everything in party politics aligns with personal wishes, acknowledging possible reasons for not securing the tickets. “There could be reasons (for not giving him tickets). Sometimes, it’s destiny or some sort of compulsion,” he added. He refrained from commenting on whether “dynastic politics” influenced the NCP’s decision.

Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha bypoll on Thursday after she unsuccessfully challenged NCP-SP leader and sitting Baramati MP Supriya Sule in her constituency. Notably, Bhujbal mentioned he was not upset with Pawar’s nomination, describing it as a collective party decision.

ALSO READ | Sanjay Raut Praises Past RSS Chiefs, Urges Top Brass To ‘Remove Arrogant BJP Leaders From Power’

Chhagan Bhujbal On RSS Criticism Over Mayayuti’s Lok Sabha Performance In Maharashtra

Reflecting on NCP’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections, where the party secured only one of the four contested seats in Maharashtra, Bhujbal called for an analysis of why the Mahayuti alliance lagged. He also addressed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) criticism of the BJP’s alliance with NCP, suggesting it was expected.

“Of the 48 seats in the state, how many seats did NCP get to contest? We got only four seats. Of these, Raigad and Baramati were core NCP seats, and we won Raigad,” Bhujbal noted. He pointed to the BJP’s poor performance in states like Uttar Pradesh and remarked, “So it is not appropriate to say that the results were not in favour of Mahayuti because of the alliance with NCP.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming assembly polls, Bhujbal voiced that the NCP should aim for an additional 15 to 20 seats, indicating a strategic approach to bolster the party’s presence in the state legislature.