Maharashtra Politics: Chhagan Bhujbal Returns To Maharashtra Cabinet Amid OBC Push, Political Tensions Ahead Of Civic Polls

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal was sworn in as a Cabinet minister in Maharashtra’s Mahayuti government on Tuesday. The oath ceremony took place at Raj Bhavan, with Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan administering the oath. This move comes ahead of the civic body elections scheduled later this year.

Bhujbal, 77, had been left out of the Cabinet after the 2024 Assembly elections but has now made a comeback. “All is well that ends well,” he said after taking oath. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with other ministers and senior leaders from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, attended the ceremony.

स्वराज्य संस्थापक छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज, राजमाता जिजाऊ, क्रांतिसूर्य महात्मा जोतीराव फुले, क्रांतीज्योती सावित्रीमाई फुले, राजर्षी छत्रपती शाहू महाराज, पुण्यश्लोक अहिल्यादेवी होळकर आणि भारतरत्न डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर यांच्यासह राज्याच्या व देशाच्या जडणघडणीत योगदान देणाऱ्या सर्व… pic.twitter.com/bEJWovywJT

— Chhagan Bhujbal (@ChhaganCBhujbal) May 20, 2025

Bhujbal takes over the post previously held by Dhananjay Munde, who resigned after his aide was linked to the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Bhujbal had earlier served as the food and civil supplies minister in the Shinde-led government from 2022 to 2024. The Maharashtra Cabinet can have up to 43 members, including the CM and two deputy CMs. However, the decision to bring Bhujbal back has drawn criticism from opposition parties. 

Although Chhagan Bhujbal is a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), he was initially not given a place in the Mahayuti Cabinet, which led to speculation that he was unhappy. Bhujbal had openly expressed his disappointment on several occasions and was also seen criticizing Ajit Pawar. Political circles are now discussing that this move by the Mahayuti and Ajit Pawar’s NCP is a strategic one, aimed at retaining OBC voters ahead of the upcoming local body elections. Earlier, Dhananjay Munde represented OBC leadership in the Cabinet, but he had to resign due to the Santosh Deshmukh case. Now, with Chhagan Bhujbal’s inclusion, the Cabinet once again has an OBC leader.

Clyde Crasto, spokesperson for the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), accused the BJP of hypocrisy. “They once accused Bhujbal of corruption and had him arrested. Now that he’s with them, he’s suddenly clean,” he said. Activist Anjali Damania also criticized the move, saying, “One corrupt minister has been replaced by another.”

What Elected Minister, CM said during the event

Minister Chhagan Bhujbal 

“I thank Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Sunil Tatkare. I also thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Everything was decided eight days ago, and now the swearing-in is taking place. All’s well that ends well.”

CM Devendra Fadanvis

Chhagan Bhujbal is considered an important face of the OBC community in the country. We welcome the decision of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) to bring him back into the Cabinet. People may have different opinions on this, but I won’t comment on that.

Nashik Guardian Minister Post Likely to See More Tension

The tussle over the Guardian Minister post for Nashik is expected to intensify. Currently, Nashik district has three Cabinet ministers School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, Agriculture Minister Adv. Manikrao Kokate, and Food & Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal. With Chhagan Bhujbal now being inducted as another Cabinet minister, the competition for the Guardian Minister post is set to grow even further. Earlier, BJP leader Girish Mahajan was given the charge of Nashik’s Guardian Minister. However, his appointment, along with that of the Raigad Guardian Minister, was later withdrawn. With Bhujbal’s return to the Cabinet, the situation surrounding the Nashik Guardian Minister role is expected to become even more complicated.