A day after saying that he was prepared to lead the state unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP),  former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal said other backward class leaders, if appointed in the top position, would help erase the impression that the NCP was a party of Marathas.

He said on Friday in Nashik that he did not make a statement a day before because he wanted to be the president, but wanted to suggest an opportunity for the OBCs. “Sharad Pawar (the NCP boss) understands such things,” he said, indicating an internal power struggle in the party, especially in the wake of Ajit Pawar’s desire to quit the Opposition leader’s office for working in the party organisation.