Can Chhagan Bhujbal hurt NCP? Left in the cold by Ajit Pawar, former minister plots a fightback

While the Bhujbal of the early 1990s was at the peak of his political influence, who dared to break away from the then rising undivided Sena, there is a cloud of doubts now over his political relevance amid questions as to whether the 77-year-old OBC leader could pose a significant challenge to the NCP if he raises the banner of revolt against Ajit in the twilight of his five-decade-long political career.

Political leader Chhagan Bhujbal with Ajit Pawar. (Express archive photo)

Bhujbal’s journey

Bhujbal, who grew up in the narrow lanes of Bagwanpura in Nashik, where his family lived alongside several Muslim households, has had a remarkable political innings. His parents passed away early, and the family moved to Mumbai when Bhujbal was just two years old.

Raised by his mother’s aunt, Bhujbal, who hails from the Mali community (an OBC group traditionally involved in gardening), also worked as a vegetable seller at the bustling Byculla market while pursuing his diploma in engineering at the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute in Matunga.

During his college years, Bhujbal attended a Bal Thackeray rally at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, where he was swayed by Thackeray’s oratory and his hardline Marathi plank. He decided to join the Sena, where he quickly rose owing to his aggressive and bombastic style. Thackeray was so impressed by Bhujbal that, in 1973, he made him a corporator in the then Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC). Bhujbal later became Mayor twice. In the 1985 Assembly elections, he won as a Sena candidate from Mazgaon, which he represented for two terms.

One of the close Bal Thackeray aides, Bhujbal’s relationship with the Sena soured with the rise of the soft-spoken Manohar Joshi, a Brahmin leader, who was favoured by Thackeray for the LoP position over him. Bhujbal’s rebellion against the Sena in 1991 coincided with the peak of the Mandal agitation, when he positioned himself as a champion of the OBC reservation. However, those close to him say the “real reason” for his exit was his resentment over getting sidelined in the party.

Bhujbal then aligned with Congress heavyweight Sharad Pawar, the Maratha strongman who played a key role in persuading him to leave the Sena. Bhujbal followed Pawar as he quit the Congress to establish the NCP.

In subsequent years, as an NCP leader Bhujbal got prominent roles in the Maharashtra governments whenever the party formed it in alliance with the Congress, including the posts of the Deputy CM, Home Minister or Public Works Department Minister.
Bhujbal’s political career was not derailed despite his name being implicated in the Telgi scam (the fake revenue stamp case), which led to his brief resignation.

Bhujbal’s political career was not derailed despite his name being implicated in the Telgi scam (the fake revenue stamp case), which led to his brief resignation. (Express Archives)

Because of his close ties with Pawar, Bhujbal remained a key player in the state power circles. However, his clout began to wane after his arrest in 2014 on money laundering charges following the BJP’s victory in the Assembly elections.

Bhujbal spent over two years in jail, and while he contemplated joining the BJP in 2019, the unexpected formation of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress, led to Bhujbal deciding to stick by the NCP and was inducted as a minister.

In July 2023, when Ajit rebelled against his uncle Pawar and joined the Mahayuti government, Bhujbal’s legal troubles were said to have played a key role in his move to side with the former. Bhujbal again managed to retain his berth in the Eknath Shinde Cabinet.
Last Sunday, however, when the new Mahayuti Cabinet was expanded with 39 ministers being sworn in, including nine from the NCP, Bhujbal got the axe. He openly targeted Ajit for dropping him, claiming that BJP CM Devendra Fadnavis actually wanted to induct him as a minister.

Bhujbal’s decline

One major reason for Bhujbal’s long-standing relationship with Pawar was the need for the NCP founder to project an image that he was not only a leader of the Maratha community. Pawar recognised Bhujbal’s ability to tap into the OBC vote bank, who also positioned himself as a prominent backward community leader. This led to the formation of the Samta Parishad, an organisation dedicated to addressing the political, social, and economic concerns of the backward classes, including the OBCs, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

However, Bhujbal’s relationship with Ajit has always remained uneasy and even tense. Ajit played a role in ending Bhujbal’s 23-month tenure as the Deputy CM in 2010, pressuring Pawar to appoint him to the post. Also, Pawar groomed some other OBC leaders within the NCP, such as Dhananjay Munde, to counter Bhujbal’s position as the party’s OBC face.

With Bhujbal’s age also becoming a factor, Ajit has raised questions about whether he would deserve the same prominence that was once given to him by Pawar. The pending corruption cases against Bhujbal also made it difficult for the BJP to show much interest in backing his ministerial claim.

Bhujbal faced criticism from the Shinde Sena after he fielded his nephew Sameer as an Independent candidate in the Nandgaon Assembly seat against the latter’s official nominee. Although Bhujbal distanced himself from it, many believe he was behind the move with Sameer seen as his potential successor.

There have also been questions about Bhujbal’s alleged “half-hearted support” for the Mahayuti candidates in regions where he holds influence, adding to the doubts surrounding his political allegiance and effectiveness.

Bhujbal followed Pawar as he quit the Congress to establish the NCP. (Express File Photo)

Bhujbal’s political future?

Bhujbal has been keeping his plans close to his chest for some time, and it seems he has sensed that the current period could be a turning point in the final phase of his political career. His actions, particularly his strong stance against the Maratha community’s demand for Kunbi (OBC) status for quota, have been driven by his bid to remain relevant in state politics.

At a time when most state politicians cutting across party lines fought shy of confronting the Maratha quota demand, Bhujbal emerged as the only senior leader to do it. While many believed his opposition was to protect the OBC share in reservation, some also felt it was a “calculated move” to reinforce his position as the state’s leading OBC leader. His stance led to his poll victory margin being reduced by half as compared to 2019, even as other NCP candidates saw an increase in their margins.

Bhujbal’s OBC aspiration was also dealt a blow by the BJP’s sweeping electoral success, which managed to consolidate a large section of Hindu votes in the state.

Addressing his supporters in Nashik Wednesday, Bhujbal said, “Please continue your agitation. We need to create awareness amongst the people. Express your unhappiness with what has happened. Till my last drop of blood Bhujbal will fight for the rights of OBCs.” This was a clear indication that he was unwilling to go down without a fight.

While Bhujbal said he will decide his future course of action soon, doubts persist about whether his discontent will resonate with the people in the same way it did earlier. With the changing political landscape and his advancing age, it remains to be seen if the once formidable leader can again mobilise public support as he once did.

Bhujbal himself had hoped to gradually step back from active state politics and settle into the role of an elderly politician in the Rajya Sabha. However, with Ajit unwilling to grant him the exit he envisioned, questions would hover over his political fate in the coming months.