No Cake Walk For Chhagan Bhujbal In Yeola (image:facebook.com/ChhaganCBhujbal)

Nashik, Maharashtra: The electoral contest of OBC strongman Chhagan Bhujbal from his home district of Nashik is not devoid of challenges. As he is seeking his fifth term from Yeola (also spelled Yevla) constituency on the NCP (Ajit Pawar) ticket, he is fielded against his former friend Manikrao Shinde of the NCP (SCP).

Bhujbal is also facing stiff opposition from the Marathas and quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil. Patil has requested to the Maratha community in Nashik district to confirm his defeat. Bhujbal has been defying the Maratha community’s demand to be included in the OBC list and bringing OBC leaders to oppose it.

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In the 2019 election, Bhujbal won the seat, defeating Shiv Sena’s Sambhaji Pawar. Bhujbal secured 1,26,237 votes, while Pawar garnered 69,712 votes. In the previous 2014 election, Chhagan won the seat by defeating Pawar by a margin of 46,442 votes.

Bhujbal, who started as a vegetable vendor in Byculla, joined the Shiv Sena in the 1960s. He entered politics being influenced by the impassioned speeches of Bal Thackeray. When Thackeray formed the Shiv Sena in 1966, Bhujbal was among the initial members who joined. He championed for the rights and pride of the Marathi community.

Bhujbal made his electoral success as Mayor of Mumbai and his debut assembly poll win from Mazgaon was in 1985 and again in 1990. When Thackeray made Manohar Joshi opposition leader in the state assembly, he quit Shiv Sena and joined the Congress in 1991. In 1995, Sharad Pawar, who became Bhujbal’s new mentor, made the latter the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council.

When Pawar quit the Congress and formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bhujbal joined him and was made the first state president of the party. When the Congress-NCP formed government in 1999, Bhujbal became deputy chief minister. But in 2003, allegations about the Telgi stamp paper scam forced him to resign from the post. He became Deputy Chief Minister again in 2009 but vacated the position for Ajit Pawar. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he contested unsuccessfully from Nashik Constituency.

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When NCP split last year, Bhujbal joined the Ajit Pawar faction, that deeply hurt Sharad Pawar. Once a close confidante, Pawar turned bitter towards Bhujbal and called him “betrayer.” They spared no chances to attack each other.  Since this Assembly elections mark first one in the state after NCP split, securing victory is crucial for both parties.