Maharashtra minister and senior Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday dismissed claims of being sidelined within the party, an ally of the ruling coalition, despite criticising the state government`s handling of the Maratha quota agitation, reported the PTI.

According to the news agency, Chhagan Bhujbal, the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Maharashtra Minister, asserted his standing within the party, saying that no one has opposed him and that Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister, supported his advocacy for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).