NCP Leader Praful Bhujbal Defends Request for Nephew's Ministerial Berth

Party candidate Rajendra Jain spoke to reporters after filing his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on June 18. Bhujbal admitted that he was keen on getting the nomination. He had also requested the party to give his nephew and former MP Sameer Bhujbal his ministerial berth. In his defence, Bhujbal said there were several examples of this in the state. He said, NCP MLA Makarand Patil is a minister in the state cabinet. His brother Nitin Patil is a Rajya Sabha member. Sunetra Pawar is the deputy chief minister, his son Parth Pawar is in the Rajya Sabha. Eknath Shinde is the deputy chief minister. His son Shrikant Shinde is in the Lok Sabha. So I also wanted my nephew Sameer Bhujbal to be included in the state cabinet if I was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. I also wanted the same justice that others got. Bhujbal denied that the BJP had opposed his proposal. He said that the state cabinet expansion would be considered at this time and that Sameer Bhujbal would get a ministerial berth the next day. He said that the BJP had only given a "clarion call" when the state cabinet was asked to take a decision.