MAHARASHTRA Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said on Friday that he desires to become an MP and that’s why he wanted to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Nashik and was also keen on Rajya Sabha nomination. Bhujbal was replying to questions over reports claiming that he was upset after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar was nominated for the Upper House. Asked if injustice was meted out to him over Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha tickets, the prominent OBC leader said the question should be asked to “them”. Sunetra Pawar on Thursday filed nomination papers as the NCP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll, days after she lost the Lok Sabha elections from Baramati. The bypoll was necessitated after Praful Patel vacated his seat and got elected for the full term of six years in February. “It is my desire (to become an MP). That is why I was ready to contest from Nashik Lok Sabha seat.

 

As I had been told that my ticket was finalised in Delhi, I had started working but when the decision (to announce the name) dragged on for a month, I stopped as there was enough humiliation,” said Bhujbal. He said Hemant Godse of Shiv Sena, NCP’s partner in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, was also trying to get the ticket from Nashik. Bhujbal said he then decided he would be okay with whoever got the ticket. Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Rajabhau Waje won the Nashik seat. Bhujbal said when it comes to party affairs, not all things fall in place as per one’s wishes. “There could be reasons (for not giving him tickets). Sometimes, it’s destiny or some sort of compulsion,” he said. He did not respond when asked if “dynastic politics” was at play in NCP. On Thursday, Bhujbal had said that though he was keen on a Rajya Sabha ticket, he was not upset with Sunetra Pawar’s nomination, which he described as a “collective decision” of the party.

 

Decision on RS ticket taken by top NCP body, Bhujbal not upset, says Ajit: MAHARASHTRA Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said the decision to field his wife for Rajya Sabha bypoll was taken by his party NCP’s apex body and denied reports that senior colleague Chhagan Bhujbal was upset over the move. Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra on Thursday filed nomination papers as the NCP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-poll in Maharashtra, days after she lost the Lok Sabha elections from Baramati. The by-poll was necessitated after NCP leader Praful Patel vacated his seat and got elected to the Upper House of Parliament for a full term of six years in February.