As he expressed his displeasure again, Chhagan Bhujbal said he has not spoken to Ajit Pawar since the Maharashtra Cabinet was formed.

Bhujbal, who is sulking over not getting a ministerial berth decided to skip the ongoing Winter Session of the House and reached Nashik on Tuesday.

An NCP stalwart, Bhujbal is a former Deputy CM and has held key portfolios in both the previous Mahayuti and MVA governments.

Congress veteran Dr Nitin Raut, a five-time MLA from Nagpur North Assembly constituency and a prominent Dalit leader, termed the denial of a cabinet post to the NCP leader "a gross injustice to both Bhujbal and the OBC community".

Bhujbal reacted to the sidelining by stating that he would decide on the future course of action after discussions with party workers

A day after the Maharashtra cabinet expansion, visibly disturbed Bhujbal, speaking to reporters he rejected the Rajya Sabha seat proposal seven days ago as it would amount to betrayal with his assembly constituency which he won in the state polls last month.

According to Chhagan Bhujbal will hold a meeting with his supporters on Tuesday and discuss what role he will take next. While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state.

Bhujbal claimed he had been excluded from the Cabinet because he took on activist Manoj Jarange, who has been leading a movement demanding Maratha community reservations in jobs and education.