Maharashtra OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who was recently inducted in the Maharashtra Cabinet, days after he had openly expressed dissent against his leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for keeping him out of the cabinet, spoke to The Hindu in an elaborate, sit-down interview . From the recent Supreme Court verdict on Maharashtra local body elections, to the OBC- Maratha reservation tussle, from the internal discussion within the party about his political prospects to the anger for being denied a Cabinet berth, from the Thackerays to the Pawars; and calling the Government’s own OBC Commission report a ‘sham’, he spoke candidly on several issues. Here are the excerpts of the interview.
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How do you see the Supreme Court’s recent order asking for local body elections to be held as per the law for OBC reservation, prior to the 2022 Banthia Commission report?
We are very happy that we got justice from the Supreme Court. When the Mandal Commission recommendations were accepted, people went to the Supreme Court. Then, a nine-judge bench had given a verdict. That is the final verdict. Afterall, the Supreme Court is supreme. (referring to the Indra Sawhney verdict)
