In a move that sparked intense speculation in the state political circles, senior Maharashtra minister and Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday met rival Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar ostensibly to discuss the brewing tension between the Marathas and Other Backward Classes (OBC) over reservations.
Bhujbal — whose meeting with Sr Pawar came just a day after he took a dig at the latter for the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)’s failure to attend an all-party meeting called by chief minister Eknath Shinde on the reservation issue – met the NCP (AP) chief at his “Silver Oak” bungalow in south Mumbai and confabulated on the quota issue.
What has fuelled the speculation is that it has come in the run-up to the State Assembly polls and the fact that his claim for a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls was ignored and that he was not later nominated as a candidate to contest the Rajya Sabha polls.
Bhujbal, who despite being a senior minister in the BJP-led MahaYuti government, has been opposing the Shinde dispensation’s move to carve out reservations for the Maratha community in the name of Kunbi OBCs.
However, there is more than what meets the eye. Because, it has emerged now that Sr Pawar, Bhujbal had spoken to NCP Working President Praful Patel. Later, Ajit Pawar, Patel, Tatkare and Bhujbal met informally over lunch. This goes to prove taht the NCP (Ajit Pawar) leadership was in the know that Bhujbal would meet Sr Pawar.
As Bhujbal himself disclosed after his meeting with the NCO (SP) chief, Bhujbal said: “I had gone to meet Pawar at his residence around 10 am today Pawarsaheb was unwell and he was taking rest. “After waiting for nearly one and half hours, Pawar saheb called me inside. Our meeting lasted for one and half hours.
Confirming that he had met Sr Pawar to seek resolution to the Maratha-vs-OBC stand-off over reservations over reservations, Bhujbal said: NCP(SP) Chief Sharad Pawar knows how the people of different communities are living in villages. I told him that there have been clashes in villages over the reservations being accorded to the Maratha community. These clashes need to be stopped. Otherwise, the situation will keep worsening”.
“Pawar saheb told me that he would speak to CM Shinde and try to bring out a solution to the problem..... I can meet Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah or Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for OBC reservation, I am ready to do anything to solve this issue,” Bhujbal said, adding that he would also talk to leaders within the MahaYuti government including Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Elaborating on the issue, Bhubal said: “Last week, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had convened an all-party meeting in Mumbai to discuss the reservation issue. Everything was fine, however, around 5 pm, someone called from Baramati and the opposition (Maha Vikas Aghadi) leaders backed out.We wanted to resolve the issue I spoke to Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar of the Congress, Jitendra Awhad of NCP (SP)…I also wanted Sharad Pawar Saheb to come…he is a senior leader and he can play a role in resolving the issue.”
On being asked about the meeting with Pawar, he said: “Pawar Saheb had taken a stand regarding the reservation to the OBC community…today there is a sort of misunderstanding among the Marathas and OBCs…to resolve the issue, Pawar Saheb must take a lead.”
Queried about the Pawar-Bhujbal meeting, senior state BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said: “It is unjust to scrutinise interactions between two leaders and draw premature inferences…it is the political culture of Maharashtra for leaders of various parties to hold discussions.”
NCP (SP) leader Awhad said: “It is a reflection of Pawar Saheb's generosity that he allocates time to individuals who hold contrasting views, even within the public domain."
