Little Daddy

AS Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal returned to the state8217;s legislature8217;s session in Nagpur after a short stay in...

AS Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal returned to the state8217;s legislature8217;s session in Nagpur after a short stay in a Mumbai hospital, he seemed to have recovered not just his health but also his characteristic aggression. He8217;s fighting off allegations of involvement in the stamp paper scam with renewed vigour but the damage to his political future could be grave.

Bhujbal is not new to controversies. In the fickle world of politics, they have been this 56 year old politician8217;s steady companions. Two decades ago during the agitation for including Belgaum and other border areas of Karnataka in Maharashtra, Bhujbal made a dramatic protest entry8212;he came dressed as a Pathan. That flamboyance has never quite left him.

Two years ago when Shiv Sena legislators blocked the entrance of Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai, Bhujbal took them by surprise by gatecrashing into the premises with a group of 50-60 people. The group included NCP ministers, MLAs and at least two dozen police constables8212;disguised as a minister8217;s staff.

8216;8216;That is his style of functioning. He likes to do something dramatic and unexpected,8217;8217; says Bhujbal8217;s trusted aide of years, Manohar Kokate.

Once a die-hard Shiv sainik, Bhujbal virtually ruled the Brinhamumbai Municipal Corporation BMC during the Sena8217;s rule. 8216;8216;Balasaheb took all Sena decisions regarding BMC on his advice. So much so, even the contractors used to deal with him,8217;8217; says a Sena leader who later went on to become Mumbai8217;s mayor.

If Bhujbal revelled in attention, he could throw a fit if overlooked. When Thackeray chose Manohar Joshi over him as opposition leader in Maharashtra8217;s Assembly in 1990, he did not hide his anger. To pacify him, he was given second term as Mayor of Mumbai.

Sensing trouble ahead, he began building base within his own caste. He formed the Samata Parishad and began consolidating his position in the Mali gardener community which forms about 11 per cent of state8217;s population. Under the Parishad8217;s banner, he also organised the Other Backward Castes8212;a 30 per cent voting population in Maharashtra. It was only a matter of time before he switched loyalty to Sharad Pawar. The rest is history.

Story continues below this ad

Bhujbal8217;s personal life is as colourful as his political career. The politician who likes to dress in safari suits, blazers and designer shoes, loves swanky cars.

Bhujbal, who once defeated Amjad Khan in an inter-collegiate drama competition, has also produced two Marathi films and has acted in another8212;Daivat. He has friends in the industry too8212;singer Suresh Wadkar, filmmaker Kiran Shantaram and the late Dada Kondke, a popular Marathi actor.

The boy who came from a family of vegetable trader in Byculla market, became a permanent fixture on Page 3 after gaining charge of the Home Department in 1999. Bhujbal got a B Tech degree from Mumbai8217;s top engineering college, VJTI now called Veermata Jijabai Technical Institute. Though he preferred politics over engineering, he always wanted to start an elite education institute8212;which he did. When he became Mayor, he got a prime plot allotted for his Mumbai Education Trust MET.

Today MET is one of the upmarket business and software schools in Mumbai. 8216;8216;Yes, I wanted to build an international class institute. Why should I hide my intentions,8217;8217; Bhujbal shoots back everytime he is quizzed on MET.

Story continues below this ad

He8217;s displaying that same aggression once again in digging out misdeeds of other politicians. Cornered over the Telgi scam, Bhujbal has decided the best way to stop this mud slinging is to throw some himself.