Senior Maharashtra leader Eknath Khadse quits BJP, to join NCP on Friday

Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse has quit the party and will be joining NCP on Friday. The startling announcement was first made by Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Eknath Khadse will be joining NCP at an event around 2 pm on Friday. BJP has also confirmed the development and said the party has received Eknath Khadse's resignation letter.

BJP spokesperson Keshav Uphadhye has said, "Eknath Khadse was our leader. Till this morning he was in BJP. We were convincing him to stay. We wish him well for the future journey."

The restlessness in Maharashtra BJP camp has been visible over the past few months and it is no secret that former minister and party veteran Eknath Khadse has been sulking. But over the past few months, there have been strong rumours that Eknath Khadse is joining the NCP soon.

There has been speculation that Eknath Khadse would be joining the NCP during the Navratri festival. On Sunday, there were talks that Eknath Khadse has resigned from BJP. However, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil denied any such development.

"Mr Khadse hasn't resigned from the party. I am sure he will not take any such step," Patil said. Khadse however kept everyone guessing with his "no comment" reaction.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar further added fuel to the raging speculation of Eknath Khadse quitting BJP and said, "Khadse's role in building the BJP cannot be ignored. He has worked as the finance minister and also as an effective Opposition leader. He may feel that he may have been neglected in his party, so there may be thoughts of going to a party where his work will be taken note of."

THE CONTROVERSY SO FAR

Ever since Eknath Khadse was forced to quit as the revenue minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in an unceremonious event, he has been out of the political circles for long. After Khadse's ouster, his followers initially alleged that it was Devendra Fadnavis who was instrumental Eknath Khadse’s exit from the party.

Soon, Eknath Khadse himself joined the chorus and opened an all-out attack against Fadnavis. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, Eknath Khadse was denied a ticket from the Muktainagar assembly seat.

WHY THE DELAY IN ANNOUNCEMENT?

Sources say that the top NCP leadership has held several rounds of talks with Eknath Khadse. The modalities of Khadse's entry were being worked out over the past weeks. Eknath Khadse is a senior leader and will have to be adequately rehabilitated in the party.

Eknath Khadse will have to be accorded a senior ministry in the Mahavikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray. Sources said that Eknath Khadse is keen on the Agriculture Department, but in the current coalition adjustment, Shiv Sena is holding the portfolio and the party is in no mood to relent.

Eknath Khadse’s move will definitely create ripples in the state's politics.