India, May 23 -- Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal has stirred political chatter with his revelation that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was keen on inducting him into the cabinet during its first expansion in December 2024. Bhujbal, who was finally sworn in on May 20 this year, confirmed that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were supportive of his induction at the time, but it didn't materialize then due to internal dynamics.

Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Bhujbal (77), a veteran OBC face in Maharashtra politics, said his return to the Mahayuti 2.0 government-after being sidelined post the BJP-led coalition's landslide 2024 Assembly victory-was backed strongly by Fadnavis. "It's...