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ShareMumbai: Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is set to become Maharashtra's deputy chief minister come a long way from being a rabble-rouser in his Shiv Sena days. Bhujbal split the Sena in 1991, taking around a dozen Sena MLAs to Congress, then led by Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra.
Revolting against Sena chief Bal Thackeray had led many to predict doomsday for Bhujbal but he not only proved them wrong but went on to become a Pawar confidant.
In June 1999, when Pawar left Congress to form Nationalist Congress Party, Bhujbal left with him and was instrumental in building a well-oiled organisation from scratch.
There wasn't much time as the 1999 assembly election was less than six months away. Yet, NCP won 59 seats and cobbled a coalition with Congress, smaller parties and a few independents. Bhujbal became the deputy chief minister.
Pawar named Bhujbal for the deputy chief minister's post for a second time in December last year after RR Patilresigned in the wake of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
A qualified engineer, the political career of Bhujbal, a prominent OBC leader, spans four decades during which he has been the Mayor of Mumbai and Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council.
A leader with a keen interest in education, Bhujbal created a world class management institute, the Mumbai Educational Trust, which has tie-up with prestigous world institutions. Born on October 15, 1947 Bhujbal started his political career with Shiv Sena and was instrumental in taking the party to rural Maharashtra in late 1980s.
Bhujbal's first term as deputy CM ended after he resigned following an attack on a TV channel office by NCP supporters. He was also targeted within NCP after allegations of involvement in multi-crore fake stamp scam in which Abdul Karim Telgi is the prime accused.
Bhujbal enjoys good rapport with other key OBC leaders like BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde.
