Bhujbal withdraws defamation case against Thackeray

Former deputy chief minister and powerful OBC leader from the state Chhagan Bhujbal made his importance felt to the NCP leadership, which has sidelined him for the last few years, by announcing to withdraw a defamation suit he had filed against his onetime mentor and bête noire later, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. In an attempt to keep Bhujbal in good humour, two senior NCP leaders, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel and energy minister in the state cabinet Dilip Walse-Patil announced to organise grand felicitation on October 15 to celebrate Bhujbal’s 61st Birthday at Shivaji Park.