THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Mumbai, May 20: Veteran Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal was sworn in as a minister in Maharashtra’s Mahayuti government on Tuesday morning at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor CP Radhakrishnan in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and several senior ministers of the ruling alliance.
Bhujbal, who represents the Yeola constituency in Nashik district, returns to the cabinet after a period of visible discontent.
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Although he was part of the previous Mahayuti cabinet, he was excluded during a later expansion, which led to public expressions of dissatisfaction and sharp criticism of Ajit Pawar—his party chief and Deputy Chief Minister. This exclusion was widely viewed as a sign of internal friction within the alliance.
His re-induction into the cabinet is not only seen as a political comeback but also as a strategic effort to maintain balance within the Mahayuti coalition.
Bhujbal has been assigned the portfolio formerly held by Dhananjay Munde, who stepped down in March citing health reasons. His return is being interpreted as a move to placate senior leaders and reinforce unity in the ruling alliance.
