Bhujbal calls on Sharad Pawar

Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal called on NCP President Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence for a 'reunion' meeting here on Friday.

Bhujbal returned home a week after hospitalisation on Thursday following bail granted by the Bombay High Court and was greeted with the first phone call from Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief.

Reciprocating the gesture, Bhujbal's first meeting was with Pawar, said party spokesperson Nawab Malik.

"There was no political discussions. It was mostly about my medical conditions. As a father-figure, Pawar advised me to take proper care of my health," Bhujbal told the media.

After reaching home after spending around 26 months in jail, Bhujbal, 71, had indicated that he would bounce back to active politics soon.

A prominent OBC leader and founder of Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad, Bhujbal is slated to address a public meeting of the NCP on its 20th anniversary on June 10 in Pune, according to party General Secretary Praful Patel.

The rally would signal Bhujbal's political rehabilitation which he plans to consolidate with follow up meetings in his home district Nashik.

His son Pankaj Bhujbal said his father had been suffering from pancreatic problems since past over two months and had undergone treatment at the Sir J.J. Hospital and KEM Hospital.

"It has improved his condition. However, doctors have advised further treatment and possibly surgery for which he will be re-admitted to hospital," said Bhujbal junior.

Bhujbal was nabbed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 14, 2016 in connection with two money-laundering cases filed against him, his nephew and former NCP MP Sameer Bhujbal and other family members besides business associates.

Later, they were probed for three other alleged corruption cases by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which lodged a charge-sheet against Bhujbal, Sameer and 15 others in the Maharashtra Sadan case.

Arrested in February 2016, Sameer Bhujbal is still in judicial custody and has sought bail.

--IANS

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