Former Maharashtra minister Baban Gholap announced on Sunday that he has resigned as a deputy leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT). He also claimed that NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal had intentions to return to their party a year ago, but that he stopped them. This information was carried by the news agency PTI.
According to Gholap, who served as the representative for the Nashik Road-Deolali assembly constituency for five terms in a row, he was in Delhi last year when Sena’s Milind Narvekar informed him that Bhujbal planned to return to their party. This information was reported by PTI. Gholap stated he was in Delhi at the time.
Chhagan Bhujbal, who is currently serving as a minister in the government of Eknath Shinde, began his political career with the Shiv Sena and remained a member of the party for more than twenty years. In 1991, he became a member of the Congress after having previously been a member of the Sena. Subsequently, he joined the NCP, which was created by Sharad Pawar.
After that, according to Gholap, he went to Mumbai and talked to Uddhav Thackeray, who was the leader of the Sena at the time.
“I asked Uddhavji how a person who bothered the late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, arrested him, and filed cases against me, Raj Thackeray, and many others can join the party. Uddhavji did not have an answer for me.” He has caused problems for each and every one of us, Shiv Sainiks. According to reports from PTI, Gholap informed reporters that he was reliving his submission to Thackeray when he made this statement. “If he joins the party, where will we go?”
According to the former MLA, After that, Thackeray conveyed to his trusted advisor Narvekar that Bhujbal should be barred from joining the party. Gholap declared that this meant the move had been foiled.
The former minister announced his resignation as a deputy leader of Sena (UBT) and sent Thackeray a copy of his resignation letter over WhatsApp, citing “recent developments” as the reason for his decision.
The Sena (UBT) leader stated that he discovered through their party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ that another leader, Vilas Shinde, has replaced him in his role as the party’s liaison chief for the Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency.
Gholap said that he is a devoted member of the Shiv Sainik organisation and that he worked hard to increase the party’s presence in the area. If things continue in this direction, I think it would be best for me to participate in the party as an ordinary activist.’
It would appear that Gholap is dissatisfied with the fact that former MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure has joined his party, Sena. As the liaison chairman for the Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency and an influential leader from the area, he had high hopes of receiving a ticket from there in the general elections that will take place the following year. However, political observers believe that this may no longer be possible given that Wakchaure has entered the race.
The former minister stated that he would be meeting with Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut in Mumbai for a discussion. “I will go to Mumbai tomorrow (Monday), and discuss the issue in greater detail,” he said.
From 1990 till 2014, Gholap served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Nashik Road-Deolali assembly constituency. His son Yogesh Gholap was elected as the MLA for the constituency in 2014, however he was defeated in 2019 by Saroj Ahire of the NCP.
On Sunday, former Nashik West assembly Member of Legislative Assembly Nitin Bhosale joined the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Bhosale had previously been a member of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). In 2009, he was the lucky winner of an MNS ticket. Initially a member of the Shiv Sainiks, he switched over to the MNS after Raj Thackeray established his own political organisation.
