Chhagan Bhujbal meets Sharad Pawar, says he advised like a father

Bhujbal’s son had visited Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence in Bandra, sparking off rumours about Bhujbal’s future course of action.

Amid speculations of a return to the Shiv Sena, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday met with party chief Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence at Silver Oak. Bhujbal’s son and MLA Pankaj Bhujbal was also present for the meeting, which lasted for half an hour.

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal leaves party chief Sharad Pawar’s residence at Silver Oak on Friday. (HT Photo)

This was the first meeting between the two leaders after Bhujbal was granted bail last week in a money laundering case. It assumes significance in the backdrop of rumours that Bhujbal was unhappy that his party did not come out in support of him while he was behind bars.

On May 9, Pankaj had visited Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence in Bandra, sparking off rumours about Bhujbal’s future course of action.

“There were no political discussions. He asked me to take care of my health and follow the doctor’s instructions. He advised me just like a father advices his child,” Bhujbal said.

Following the meting, several other NCP leaders, including senior leader Ajit Pawar and MLA Jaydutt Kshirsagar visited Bhujbal’s Santacruz residence to meet the ailing leader. Farmers’ leader and Swabhimani Paksha chief, Raju Shetti also met Bhujbal.

On Thursday, in a party meeting, Pawar had expressed hope that Bhujbal would come out clean from the case. Bhujbal was arrested in March 2016 in connection with a money laundering case.

Bhujbal, an influential Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader in the state, began his political career with the Sena. he quit the party in 1991, creating a rift between the Bhujbal and Thackeray families. Bhujbal’s position as an OBC leader has helped the NCP garner a following from members of the Vanjari, Mali and Dhangar communities.

Bhujbal was arrested in March 2016 by the enforcement directorate (ED) for allegedly receiving kickbacks worth crores for awarding various government contracts, including the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi.