Pune: Protest Outside Ajit Pawar’s Residence Demands Justice for OBC Leader Bhujbal

Baramati, 18th December 2024: A protest was held yesterday in front of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s residence in the Pune district by the Sakal Other Backward Class (OBC) Samaj. The protest was organized to oppose the exclusion of former minister and Yeola MLA Chhagan Bhujbal from the current cabinet during the formation of the Mahayuti government. A formal letter regarding the protest was submitted to the Baramati Police Station.
The Mahayuti coalition achieved significant success in the recent Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, securing 230 out of 288 seats. Among these, the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won 41 seats. It has been reported that the massive support of the OBC community played a crucial role in this victory.
On 5th December, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the third time, with Ajit Pawar and Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde serving as Deputy Chief Ministers. The cabinet was expanded on 15th December, but Chhagan Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader in Maharashtra, was notably excluded from the cabinet. This decision was unexpected, given Bhujbal’s extensive political experience, including previous roles as Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister. Bhujbal has since expressed disappointment over his exclusion and hinted at a significant response.
In response to this perceived injustice, members of the OBC community staged a protest in front of Ajit Pawar’s residence in Sahyog Society, Baramati. The protesters submitted a letter to the Baramati Police Station, stating their grievances regarding the exclusion of Bhujbal. The letter was signed by Dnyaneshwar Kaule, Anil Ladkat, Nilesh Tilekar, Kishore Hingane, Bapurao Lokhande, Sanjay Girme, Datta Lonkar, Bapu Bankar, Mahavir Lonkar, and others.