Ahead of Maharashtra civic polls, Chhagan Bhujbal likely to be sworn in as cabinet minister today

MUMBAI: NCP MLA and OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal is likely to be sworn in as cabinet minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti govt at 10 am Tuesday at Raj Bhavan.He is set to replace NCP's Dhananjay Munde who was forced to resign in March over the alleged role of his aide in the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. He is likely to get the food and civil supplies portfolio he has held earlier.His induction ahead of the civic polls could benefit Mahayuti and NCP as he is one of the most influential OBC politicians in the state. Bhujbal secured a major win for OBCs after he filed a petition in Suprme Court under the aegis of the Akhil Bharatiya Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad for OBC electoral reservation. The reservation for OBCs has been upheld by the SC.NCP may get boost with Bhujbal as minThe swearing-in ceremony is likely to be at 10 am and the cabinet meeting would be slated for 11 am at Mantralaya, sources said. With local body elections due in the next few months, Bhujbal would play a crucial role and could boost the chances of the NCP.Sources said Bhujbal was denied a cabinet berth earlier as he had insisted on a council seat for his son Pankaj, who was accommodated as part of the governor’s quota. Ajit Pawar was not in favour, but Bhujbal pointed out his son could not contest Nandgaon assembly seat (given to Shiv Sena). Despite his son being accommodated, Bhujbal’s nephew Sameer Bhujbal contested as independent from Nandgaon.