Deshmukh backs out of Bajaj’s birthday bash

MUMBAI: Rahul Bajaj deserves a better birthday gift than this. Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has had to pull out of a function organised to felicitate Mr Bajaj on Saturday, his birthday, because of major political differences between the Congress and the NCP.

The chief minister was to honour Mr Bajaj for his contribution to the development of Marathwada, the region that Mr Deshmukh comes from and where Bajaj Auto has a manufacturing unit.

As reported by ET on Friday, the chief minister’s decision to honour Mr Bajaj added fuel to the already raging fire over the Rajya Sabha nomination issue. The NCP has proposed the Bajaj Auto chairman’s candidature to the Rajya Sabha, even as the Congress was claiming its right over the seat.

The June 15 election has isolated the Congress since the NCP has wheeled in the Shiv Sena and the BJP to support Mr Bajaj. This has ensured Congress candidate Avinash Pande’s defeat in the 288-member house since the newly grouped NCP-Sena-BJP combine has 183 members compared with the Congress’ 73.

The Congress, which had taken its alliance partner NCP’s support for granted, was caught napping after Sharad Pawar fielded Mr Bajaj with support from the saffron combine. Unaware of Mr Pawar’s machinations, the Congress had announced Avinash Pande’s candidature for the election. This move forced the Congress to look for cover.

For Mr Pawar, this was a major tactical victory over the Congress, which last week had deprived the NCP of a seat in the state legislative council elections. The Congress had split four NCP votes, resulting in Mr Pawar’s nominee losing. The Maratha strongman retaliated by snatching the Rajya Sabha seat from the Congress.

Even before both parties cooled down, Mr Bajaj’s felicitation at the hands of CM Deshmukh gave a new twist to the controversy. Mr Deshmukh, as chief guest, was scheduled to honour Mr Bajaj at a function organised by NCP leader Vinayak Mete.

Coming in the wake of a bitter battle over the Rajya Sabha election, a section of Congressmen wanted the chief minister to stay away from the function. The chief minister’s camp tried to defend its position by arguing that the function was planned much before the Rajya Sabha election was announced.

However, stung by the NCP’s move, the Congressmen were not in a mood to listen to Mr Deshmukh. Finally it was the chief minister who had to back down and withdraw from the function. “The chief minister will not be attending Mr Rahul Bajaj’s felicitation,” Mr Deshmukh’s office informed Friday evening.