Pune: In an ostensibly innocuous expression that denoted a significant shift in Shiv Sena's political equations with NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana today refrained from calling him Lakhoba Lokhande, a sobriquet coined to poke fun at him after he left the Sena 17 years ago.

In an editorial, Chhagan, Live Happily , which came three days after Bhujbal withdrew a defamation case against 82-year-old Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray setting off speculation on a realignment, the PWD minister was mentioned by name by his mentor, a conspicuous departure from Lakhoba, a fictional character of a conman portrayed in a Marathi play.

And the compliment of sorts did not end there as Thackeray went down memory lane to recall Bhujbal s work when he was in Shiv Sena and his contribution to the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary agitation.

The editorial said Bhujbal was a disillusioned man in NCP and was facing an embarrassment within that party on the issue of OBC reservation for Maratha community.

In an overture to the former Sainik, Thackeray said Bhujbal was wasting his potential and strength in NCP and was a minister in a government which was non-existent.

Referring to Bhujbal's reported statement that he had withdrawn the case against the Shiv Sena chief after consulting NCP president Sharad Pawar, the editorial ended on a sarcastic note saying "May Sharad baboo fulfill his wishes and make him happy".

The description of Bhujbal as Lakhoba first appeared in Saamana after publication of his photograph donning a Gandhi cap, following his entry into Congress in 1991.
Source : PTI