Sharad Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal share stage in Pune for Phule event

Ajit Pawar camp Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal shared a stage with NCP(SP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Friday to commemorate the 194th birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule in Maharashtra’s Pune district. The meeting took greater significance in light of Mr. Bhujbal’s rumoured disappointment over his exclusion from the Maharashtra cabinet.

However, Mr. Bhujbal rejected any such inferences. He said, “Whenever there are going to be such events reflecting Shahu-Ambedkar-Phule legacy, you will see leaders irrespective of parties sharing the stage. So there is no need to draw political conclusions.”

The two leaders not only shared the stage but also travelled together in the same vehicle and later visited former MLA Ram Kandge’s home. 

During the event, Mr. Bhujbal also recollected Mr. Sharad Pawar’s decisions during his time as Chief Minister including his efforts to implement the Mandal commission’s recommendations, the renovation of Bhide wada, and the renaming of Marathwada University. 

Talks of a potential reunion between the warring NCP camps have been doing rounds in political circles for a while now. Mr. Ajit Pawar’s mother Asha Pawar visited the shrine in Pandharpur and offered prayers for a reunion with Mr. Sharad Pawar.  

However, NCP State president and Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare dismissed the possibility of any reunion. “We will continue our alliance with the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre and stay with the Mahayuti in State. There is no rethinking required,” he told the media in Mumbai on Friday.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mr. Bhujbal also shared stage in Satara’s Naigaon village, the birthplace of Savitribai Phule. At the occassion, both of them praised each other.

Mr. Bhujbal appreciated the Mahayuti government’s efforts of installing the statues at the entrance of the Mantralaya in Mumbai. “I was in the Opposition and during their tenure former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Mr. Fadnavis fulfilled our long-standing dream of installing Mahatma Phule’s statue within months.”

The appearance with Mr. Fadnavis has sparked interest, given Mr. Bhujbal’s current dissatisfaction with his own party. This has raised speculations about a potential switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, while addressing the media, Mr. Fadnavis said, “We discussed the social and political issues concerning the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and how we can take ahead the work done by Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule.”