Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has denied growing speculation that he is planning to leave the party and rejoin the Shiv Sena. “I am very much in the NCP and working for my party. I have not been approached by anyone. I have not contacted anyone either,” Mr Bhujbal told The Hindu from Nasik.
Meanwhile, his close aide Kishore Kanhere joined the Shiv Sena on Monday. He was the chief of the Vidarbha chapter of the Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad floated by Mr Bhujbal.
However, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray also indicated that the party’s doors would be closed for Mr. Bhujbal. “Those who hurt our founder Balasaheb Thackeray will not be allowed to join the party,” said Mr. Thackeray.
Mr. Bhujbal was earlier in the Shiv Sena but split from the party in 1991 to join the Congress. He later joined the NCP when it was formed. Whe he was Home Minister in the Maharashtra Government, he had taken the lead in getting Bal Thackeray arrested in 2000.
However, Mr. Bhujbal now finds himself increasingly sidelined in the NCP, with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar gaining the upper hand. Mr Bhujbal’s defeat in the Lok Sabha polls from Nasik is only said to have increased his frustration.
