Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal took oath as a minister at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. The move has generated responses from political leaders across party lines. Among them, Jayant Patil of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction welcomed Bhujbal’s inclusion in the cabinet while hinting at future responsibilities for the veteran politician.
Speaking to the media, Patil remarked, “It is good that Chhagan Bhujbal has been given an opportunity. This is the first time he had been left out of the cabinet, but now he’s been brought back in. I’m sure he must be happy. He is experienced, and the cabinet needs leaders with experience. That is likely why he was included again.”
Patil further emphasized the need for appointing Guardian Ministers in key districts. “Raigad and Nashik are both major districts, yet neither has a Guardian Minister appointed so far. The Kumbh Mela is scheduled to take place in Nashik in the near future. A decision for such an important district should have been made earlier. The government has delayed this appointment.”
He concluded with a clear suggestion: “Now that a senior and capable leader like Bhujbal has joined the cabinet, I believe the government will have to appoint him as the Guardian Minister of Nashik.”
Bhujbal’s return to the cabinet is seen as a strategic move ahead of upcoming political developments in Maharashtra, with his extensive administrative experience potentially playing a key role in managing significant events such as the Nashik Kumbh Mela.