Sena bound to have concern for me as I spent 25 years with them: Bhujbal

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who was granted bail in a money laundering case, today said the Shiv Sena was bound to have some concern about his health as he had been with the saffron party for 25 years.

He said NCP chief Sharad Pawar was the first to call him after he came out of jail.

He also expressed hope that "truth" will come out in the Maharashtra Sadan scam case, in which he is an accused.

Bhujbal, 70, was today discharged from the civic-run KEM hospital here, where he underwent treatment for nearly a week after being released from the Arthur Road Jail.

He then went to his residence in suburban Santacruz.

His son Pankaj Bhujbal later, in a statement, said the former deputy chief minister was suffering from a pancreatic ailment for the last two months, and would require further treatment and surgery for it.

Pankaj had yesterday met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who advised him to take care of his ailing father, as per a source privy to the meeting.

The meeting had also triggered speculations about the change in the Sena's stance towards the senior NCP leader.

Today, after reaching his residence from the hospital, Chhagan Bhujbal interacted with media persons and said, "I was going through a downfall and the Sena extended its support verbally. I was with the Sena for 25 years; there will be some attachment for sure. There will be some concern for sure".

The former deputy chief minister started his political career with the Shiv Sena and was in the party for over two decades. He left the Sena in 1991 and joined the Congress.

Later, after Sharad Pawar decided to split from the Congress and formed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the former PWD minister went along with him.

Asked about how he was feeling now after coming home, the senior NCP leader said, "The skies have cleared now."
To a query about his health, he said, "I was not well for the last three-and-a-half months. I have still not fully recovered. Doctors have asked me not to take stress."
Asked he if would participate in it, the leader said, "If I feel better, I will go to Pune and attend the function."
When asked about it, the NCP leader said, "The truth will come out for sure."