Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday denied he had resigned or been asked to do so.
On Tuesday, he spoke to mediapersons in between undergoing some medical tests at the Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai.
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The opposition is baying for Bhujbal's resignation in connection with the fake stamp paper scam but no one in his party has yet come forward to defend him. He was isolated during the assembly session in Nagpur.
The demand became louder after it emerged that a police officer, arrested in connection with the scam, had allegedly written a letter to Governor Mohammed Fazal that Bhujbal and his nephew, Sameer, were involved in the scam.
Bhujbal said that he would proceed to Nagpur and face the opposition in the assembly once he is declared medically fit. "I will contest all the false charges levelled against me. I am not the one to leave the battleground halfway."
On December 14, at a meeting attended by top leaders, NCP legislators reportedly made it clear that Bhujbal had to go. The same evening, he complained of 'uneasiness' and went in for a medical checkup.
NCP president Sharad Pawar has denied asking Bhujbal to resign. "I was not in Delhi on Saturday and Sunday and I did not met anyone from Maharashtra on those days. These reports have been planted by parties with vested interests," he told PTI on Tuesday while reacting to reports that Bhujbal had flown to Delhi on Saturday night to meet him.
Earlier in the day, Bhujbal was taken to Jaslok Hospital for a Miocardial Perfusion Test. Hospital. Doctors attending on Bhujbal said the Deputy Chief Minister was eager to leave on Wednesday for Nagpur to attend the on-going winter session of the state legislature.
What stood out was the absence of even a single NCP MLA or senior party colleague among those who called on Bhujbal to enquire about his health. The ongoing assembly session in Nagpur was cited as the reason.
Those who called on Bhujbal and enquired about his health at the hospital included city sheriff Kiran Shantaram and former minister B A Desai.
About 20 NCP activists had also come to the hospital to inquire about their leader. One of them was Mumbai corporator Suryakant Patil. Asked about the absence of senior leaders, he said, "They are busy with the ongoing assembly session but are expected to visit soon." He revealed that top office bearers had kept away because of groupism within the party.
