MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal from the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) met with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at his residence, 'Silver Oak,' sparking speculation. Bhujbal, reportedly unhappy with recent NCP developments, however, clarified that he sought Pawar's intervention in the ongoing debate over Maratha reservations and objections by OBC leaders.

After the meeting, Bhujbal, an OBC leader, told reporters that he had a one-and-a-half-hour discussion with Pawar, who assured him that he would address the issue with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and other leaders soon. Bhujbal expressed concern about the growing division between Marathas and OBCs in Maharashtra, noting that tensions have led to boycotts between the communities. He urged Pawar to intervene, recalling his previous efforts in resolving OBC issues as Chief Minister. Bhujbal opposes the inclusion of Marathas in the Kunbi (OBC) category, a stance that has drawn criticism from Maratha social activist Manoj Jarange-Patil.

Bhujbal's visit followed his indirect criticism of Sharad Pawar for the opposition's boycott of an all-party meeting on the Maratha quota issue. Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)—comprising the Congress, NCP (SP), and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT)—did not attend the meeting convened by CM Shinde on July 9, citing a lack of consultation on the Maratha reservation issue. Bhujbal suggested that opposition leaders skipped the meeting due to a phone call from Baramati, Pawar's stronghold. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule, won the Baramati seat by over 43,000 votes, defeating her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar, the wife of Ajit Pawar.