Shiv Sena Leader Clarifies: Bhujbal’s Cabinet Exclusion an NCP Matter
Mumbai, Dec 30 (PTI) – Maharashtra’s political landscape saw a stir as Shiv Sena leader and state minister Bharat Gogawale addressed the exclusion of Chhagan Bhujbal from the cabinet. Gogawale emphasized that the decision is an internal matter of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), not the ruling Mahayuti coalition.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Gogawale stated, “The NCP, like its allies Shiv Sena and BJP, has the autonomy to select its ministers. Thus, Bhujbal’s exclusion is solely an NCP issue.”
Bhujbal, a seasoned politician, has pointed fingers at NCP President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for his non-inclusion in the BJP-led government’s expanded cabinet. He claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had supported his induction.
On December 15, a total of 39 legislators were sworn in as ministers, with 33 taking on cabinet roles and the remainder as ministers of state. This development continues to unfold as political dynamics within the coalition evolve.