Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)'s Chhagan Bhujbal has been appointed the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the third time, a top party leader announced.
Senior NCP leader Praful Patel announced Bhujbal's selection as the NCP Legislature Party leader and the Deputy Chief Minister at a press conference on Monday evening.
Bhujbal pipped strong contenders - state NCP Chief R R Patil, and party strongman Ajit Pawar, nephew of party leader Sharad Pawar - to the coveted post.
The aggressive former Shiv Sainik, Bhujbal was the state deputy chief minister from October 18, 1999 to December 23, 2003.
He was re-appointed on December 4, 2008, for a second term to the post, but minus the home portfolio that earlier went with it.
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