As NCP ropes in Bhujbal in cabinet, Jarange says Ajit Pawar will have to pay price for his ”mistake” but OBC community hails move

“Whether Chhagan Bhujbal should be made a minister or not is the NCP’s internal party matter. However, Ajit Pawar has made a big mistake. He will have to face the consequences of his mistake. Ajit Pawar has given a ministerial berth to someone who was opposing Maratha reservation. Bhujbal becoming a minister does not make any difference to us,” Jarange-Patil told reporters in Jalna on Tuesday.

He alleged that Ajit Pawar was backing casteist leaders. “He will have to pay a price for this,” he reiterated.

Saying that Bhujbal must be happy as the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat elections are likely to be held soon, Jarange-Patil said, “But his happiness will be short-lived. Bhujbal is a casteist leader. All MLAs in his party should have opposed his inclusion in the ministry.”

Jarange-Patil also targeted Fadnavis, saying, “He has taken a vow to finish off the Maratha community. Fadnavis first brought Eknath Shinde into his fold, and now he is being sidelined. Fadnavis uses people to his advantage and then dumps them.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut took a jibe at Bhujbal’s inclusion in the cabinet. ”I am very happy about Bhujbal’s inclusion in the cabinet. It exposes BJP’s double talk. It lays Devendra Fadnavis’ false claims on tackling corruption.”

Welcoming Bhujbal’s inclusion in the cabinet, OBC leader Laxman Hake said,”The inclusion of the senior NCP leader in the cabinet is important for the OBC community as soon there will be self-government body and civic elections. OBC leaders are going to face challenge on the poll terrain. Bhujbal’s inclusion in the cabinet will strengthen the hands of OBC leaders.”

Taking a jibe, Hake said,”This is just a trailer…Soon Jayant Patil and Rohit Pawar will also take oath. Even Supriya Sule will take oath at the Centre.”

AAP spokesperson Mukund Kirdat said,”Chhagan Bhujbal was accused of corruption and was released on bail on health grounds.. These allegations were made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself. Many BJP leaders including Kirit Somaiya were constantly accusing him. Has he now been given a full clean chit by using the BJP’s dirty washing machine? This appointment shows that there is a huge difference between BJP’s words and actions. It seems that another leader has come in place of OBC leader Dhananjay Munde at the will of BJP. Otherwise, Bhujbal, is now seen thanking Fadnavis instead of Ajit Pawar. If he was chosen as the OBC leader in the backdrop of local elections, then the OBC people should answer the question of whether any corrupt leader works for OBCs. What exactly does a corrupt leader do for OBCs?”

Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari said Bhujbal’s return to the Fadnavis government exposes BJP’s duplicity. ”It was BJP which had accused Bhujbal of corruption in the Maharashtra Sadan scam. It was BJP which had sent Bhujbal to jail for two years. And now the same BJP is taking him on its shoulders and breaking into a jig. BJP has no shame left. It will go to any extent to cling to power. It only talks of banishing corruption but does everything possible to promote and celebrate corruption and the corrupt.”

Tiwari said the secrecy that was maintained in not announcing the name of Bhujbal much before the oath-taking ceremony only reveals that the NCP was wary of taking him into the cabinet. ”NCP it seems was worried how the Maratha community will react. Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil has already reacted angrily over the inclusion of Bhujbal in the cabinet. NCP’s fears are coming true. It will not be easy for the party to take up the challenge of Jarange-Patil,” he said.

Manav Kamble who heads Swaraj Abhiyan, said,”I think the move is aimed at polarising the OBC and Maratha communities in view of the forthcoming self-government bodies and civic elections. The BJP led Mahayuti is aiming to make gains by pitting one community against the other.”

Kamble said the move is also aimed at cutting Eknath Shinde to size. ”By strengthening the hands of Ajit Pawar, it seems BJP is trying to cut Shinde to size. This is part of BJP’s policy of use and throw. The BJP seems determined to help Ajit Pawar reach the top position in the state.”