Has NCP abandoned Chhagan Bhujbal?
To protest against Bhujbal's arrest, the Congress-NCP elected representatives did wear black bands in Vidhan Bhavan on Tuesday, but senior leader Ajit Pawar remained missing from the picture.
Former deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who was arrested in connection with a money laundering case, seems to be fighting a lonely battle after being abandoned by his party.
To protest against Bhujbal's arrest, the Congress-NCP elected representatives did wear black bands in Vidhan Bhavan on Tuesday, but senior leader Ajit Pawar remained missing from the picture. Also, rather than leading the protest, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare participated briefly and then vanished.
"Ajit dada should have been present in the protest. We understand his position because he is facing charges under the irrigation scam. But this is not the time to go on a defensive. If the BJP has decided to indulge in vendetta politics, then we also have to be more aggressive and fight it out politically, in and out of the House. Running away will send a wrong signal, which will demoralise the party cadre," said a leader, requesting anonymity.
Another leader said ally Congress also participated in the protest and expressed their solidarity for Bhujbal. "When the news of his arrest spread on Monday evening, that time also no senior leader except NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad came out to meet the party workers, who had assembled at the ED office at Ballard Pier. The protest on Tuesday was also not big in scale. This shows that the party cares little about Bhujbal," said another NCP leader.
Sources said most senior NCP leaders were not happy with Bhujbal. "He always opposed the Maratha leadership and tried to build up a parallel leadership. If Bhujbal did not stand with us, why should we then?" asked a senior NCP leader.
The diminishing stature of firebrand OBC leader has paved the way for another leader, Dhananjay Munde, who is close to Ajit Pawar as well. Munde is trying to occupy Bhujbal's space in NCP. "Munde is young, dynamic and has a clean slate. He has got a huge fan following in his own vanjara community in particular and in OBC community at large. Besides, he has been exposing BJP ministers with his fiery and attacking speeches in the Upper House," said an observer.
