Maharashtra: Miffed With Party, Veteran Leader Eknath Khadse Quits BJP, Set To Join NCP On Friday

Khadse is expected to announce his resignation at a press conference this evening. He had been sulking since he was made to resign as a minister in the then BJP government in 2016 on allegations of corruption.

.Photo/PTI

New Delhi: Maharashtra BJP veteran Eknath Khadse has resigned from the party. Khadse who has been a minister in the Fadnavis government was miffed with the party lately. Sources close to him say that according to Khadse, there was no longer any ground for him to stay in the party. Chandrakant Patil, Maharashtra BJP president said  "I got Eknath Khadse's resignation this morning and it has been accepted. We give him our best wishes for joining a new party." Following the news of Khadse's resignation,  NCP Leader & Maharashtra Minister Jayant Patil said that he will be inducted into the Nationalist Congress Party on Friday. He said "Eknath Khadse promoted BJP in Maharashtra over years. I've been informed that BJP Leader Eknath Khadse has resigned from his party." "We've decided to give him an entry in NCP. He will be formally inducted into NCP at 2 pm on Friday,"Patil added. Khadse has been sulking since he was made to resign as a minister in the then BJP government in 2016 on allegations of corruption. There were speculations in the last few days that he may quit the BJP and join the Sharad Pawar-led party. Fadvanis had dismissed speculations of Khadse's exit Khadse's exit from the saffron party comes after former CM Devendra Fadanavis expressed full confidence that he would stay in the party. Fadnavis on Tuesday said there are talks every day of such kind of 'muhurat'. On Monday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had praised Khadse, triggering speculations that NCP may induct the sulking BJP leader. Pawar had said Khadse was earlier the leader of opposition and played a huge role in building the BJP in the state. "He would criticise us and we would take note of it," Pawar said. "One is bound to feel disturbed if his contributions and hard work are not taken note of. He may think why shouldn't he shift to a party which appreciates his work," the Pawar had said.