Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has expressed his aspiration to become a Member of Parliament (MP) after the party chose Sunetra Pawar, wife of NCP leader Ajit Pawar, as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bye-election.
On Thursday, Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat at Vidhan Bhawan in Mumbai, a move that reportedly left Bhujbal disappointed. Speaking to TOI, Bhujbal acknowledged the party’s decision and stated, “Perhaps my party felt that I was not the right fit for the Rajya Sabha bypoll. I have always been loyal to my party and respected collective decisions.”
Highlighting the competitive selection process, Bhujbal mentioned there were 13 contenders for the Rajya Sabha seat, leading to Sunetra Pawar’s nomination as the sole choice. When asked about his sentiments regarding the decision, Bhujbal revealed his desire to secure a Rajya Sabha nomination, emphasizing his longstanding ambition to serve as an MP.
In addition to his aspirations for the Rajya Sabha, Bhujbal had previously aimed to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Nashik constituency. However, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, including the Shiv Sena, nominated Hemant Godse, who ultimately lost to Shiv Sena’s Rajabhau Waje.
Reflecting on his political journey, Bhujbal remarked, “Sometimes, destiny or circumstances play a role in these decisions. There may be reasons for not receiving nominations.” Despite the disappointment, Bhujbal affirmed that the party’s decision was made in its best interest, and he harbored no ill feelings towards it.
During Sunetra Pawar’s nomination filing, Bhujbal was notably present, although the absence of Shiv Sena and BJP leaders was conspicuous. Bhujbal reiterated his readiness to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Nashik, mentioning that his preparations were halted when the final ticket announcement was delayed, leading to what he described as a sense of humiliation.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the NCP (led by Ajit Pawar) contested in alliance with the BJP and Shiv Sena for four out of Maharashtra’s 48 seats, winning only one seat in Raigad. Sunetra Pawar herself contested but lost to Supriya Sule. The Rajya Sabha bye-election follows the resignation of NCP leader Praful Patel, necessitating a replacement after two years into his tenure.
As Bhujbal navigates this political juncture, his aspirations remain anchored in contributing significantly to Maharashtra’s legislative landscape, balancing ambition with party dynamics and collective decisions.
