MUMBAI, March 5 -- The question on deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's mind right now is who will fill the berth vacated by Dhananjay Munde. Until now, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had the choice of only two leaders from the Other Backward Class (OBC) community in the cabinet - Munde and the seasoned Chhagan Bhujbal.
However, after the Mahayuti returned to power in December 2024, Bhujbal was given the short shrift.
Party insiders said Pawar has two options now - to keep the post vacant till Munde's name is cleared or bring Bhujbal back.
Keeping the space vacant would signal that Munde may be re-inducted, if he is not found guilty.
The 77-year-old Bhujbal has been an aggressive OBC leader. When he was not given a ministerial berth...