Tue Dec 17 11:41:05 UTC 2024: ## Veteran NCP Leader Bhujbal Rejects Rajya Sabha Offer, Accuses Party Leadership of Disrespect

**Nashik, Maharashtra:** Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal has publicly denounced the party leadership, accusing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Working President Praful Patel of treating him with disrespect after his exclusion from the recent cabinet expansion. Bhujbal, who skipped the ongoing Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, met with supporters in Nashik on Tuesday to express his outrage.

Bhujbal claims that despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s support for his inclusion in the cabinet, he was ultimately overlooked. He rejected the subsequent offer of a Rajya Sabha seat, calling it a betrayal of his Yevala constituency voters who overwhelmingly elected him to the Assembly. He stated that accepting the Rajya Sabha seat would require him to resign from the Assembly, a step he is unwilling to take.

He further criticized Pawar and Patel for failing to discuss the ministerial berth with him despite prior promises, questioning whether he is merely a “toy” in their hands. Bhujbal highlighted that he had also been encouraged to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Nashik, only to later have that support withdrawn.

Bhujbal, a veteran politician with a 40-year career, emphasized that his concern isn’t solely about the ministerial post itself but the perceived disregard for his contributions and experience within the party. He stated that he will consult with party workers across the state before deciding his next course of action. The incident has created significant internal friction within the NCP.

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