'My Ticket Was Cut Because Of...': Chhagan Bhujbal On Nashik Lok Sabha Seat | Interview

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Last Updated:November 08, 2024, 09:10 IST

In an interview to News18 Lokmat, Chhagan Bhujbal from Ajit Pawar’s NCP has alleged that his candidature for the Nashik Lok Sabha seat was thwarted by Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

Chhagan Bhujbal had expressed interest in contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Nashik, but was forced to step back following Mahayuti seat-sharing talks. (PTI/File)

In an explosive claim ahead of Maharashtra elections, Chhagan Bhujbal from Ajit Pawar’s NCP has alleged that his candidature for the Nashik seat in Lok Sabha elections was thwarted by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Both parties, along with the BJP, are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

In an exclusive interview to News18 Lokmat, Bhujbal, a state minister, said he came to know this from BJP leaders. “My ticket was cut," he said.

Bhujbal has now stated that BJP leaders had asked him to contest from Nashik and hence he had also prepared himself to put up a strong fight from the constituency. He further shared that ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, two to three lists were released by the Mahayuti partners. However, his name did not feature in any of them.

He said that when he enquired, it came to light that Shinde’s Sena wanted to keep the Nashik seat for itself. The Shiv Sena had reportedly calculated that if it wins the Nashik seat, the party will also end up winning four to five seats around that region. However, the Lok Sabha results proved otherwise.

Asked about NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar’s hint at retirement from politics, Bhujbal said he has known Sharad Pawar for several years and he does not seem to be a person who can rest at home.

“I know that he is not the kind of person who sits at home. He will not rest even for a day. He has said this many times before but he has not retired from politics," Bhujbal said.

The NCP leader also shared that Sharad Pawar had spoken about forming a government with the BJP thrice but had backed out every time.

“When we left Sharad Pawar’s support, 54 MLAs had signed up to support BJP. Rohit Pawar, Jitendra Awad and Jayant Patil were also there," he said. Bhujbal also raised the question why these leaders did not come for the talks together.

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, following weeks of discord between the Mahayuti partners over the Nashik Lok Sabha seat in North Maharashtra, Bhujbal announced that he was stepping back from the electoral fray. This paved the way for the Shinde faction who fielded two-term MP Hemant Godse from the key seat.