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Maharashtra Cabinet: Sanjay Raut also criticised chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for including the leaders he had previously accused of corruption in the cabinet
Sanjay Raut said Chhagan Bhujbal’s extreme stance against Manoj Jarange’s efforts was detrimental to the social harmony in Maharashtra. (PTI File)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the exclusion of senior Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) leader Chhagan Bhujbal from the Maharashtra cabinet expansion was a result of his own actions, particularly opposing the Maratha reservation movement led by activist Manoj Jarange.
Bhujbal, a prominent OBC face in Maharashtra politics, was widely expected to secure a ministerial position. However, his name was conspicuously missing from the list of new cabinet inductees, leaving him visibly displeased. Bhujbal, in a sharp response to his exclusion, told reporters, “Yes, I am upset. You should ask those who sidelined me about the reasons.”
Raut said Bhujbal’s extreme stance against Jarange’s efforts was detrimental to the social harmony in Maharashtra. “Both the Maratha and OBC communities are significant social groups in the state, and it was essential to ensure justice for all without encroaching upon the rights of others,” said Raut, adding, “The ‘superpower used Bhujbal against Jarange, then excluded him from the Maharashtra cabinet.”
Raut also addressed the broader political scenario, mentioning that the Mahayuti alliance holds a substantial majority in the state assembly. He asserted that any dissent within the alliance would not pose a threat to the government’s stability. He remarked that those expressing dissatisfaction would eventually be pacified, likening the situation to giving them a toy to calm their discontent.
He also criticised chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for including individuals in his cabinet whom he had previously accused of corruption. He questioned Fadnavis’s decision to appoint these individuals, suggesting that it contradicted his earlier stance on corruption.
Raut concluded by stating that he would not engage in the dispute between Bhujbal and Jarange, as it was a path chosen by Bhujbal himself.
The exchange highlights the ongoing tensions within Maharashtra’s political landscape, particularly concerning the Maratha reservation issue and the dynamics within the ruling alliance. The differing perspectives of political leaders underscore the complexities involved in addressing social justice and political representation in the state.
