India, May 24 -- Newly inducted Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister and prominent Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday told Hindustan Times that he was definitely not happy when he was excluded from the cabinet after the Mahayuti returned to power last year. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had spoken with deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar regarding his inclusion in the cabinet on two occasions prior to his recent induction, he said.

"I have always paid the price for being vocal on issues of the OBCs but will continue to do so," the veteran leader known for his comebacks said during an interview. Edited excerpts:

Q: Are you happy to be back in the state cabinet?

Ans: Definitely. I played an i...