But adds that any decision to change parties must be that of Khadse’s alone
@the_news_21
Pune: In a bid to drive a wedge in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar further fuelled widespread speculation of estranged senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse’s possible defection to the NCP he remarked that Khadse’s contribution in establishing the BJP in Maharashtra was immense, it was ultimately up to him to take a decision whether or not to join the NCP or any other party in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
Speaking to newspersons at Osmanabad, the NCP chief further added that Khadse was regarded as the most influential Opposition leader in the State in the last 25 years.
“Whether as Leader of the Opposition (in the Legislative Assembly) or as the former minister for Revenue, we have seen Khadse’s accomplishments and his contribution and all are well aware of his capabilities. However, any political decision that he wishes to take (possible defection) is ultimately up to him,” said Pawar. The NCP chief refused to comment about his (Khadse’s) entry into the NCP fold, but however, dropped several hints to that effect.
“Despite being considered an influential opposition leader in Maharashtra’s politics for more than two decades, Khadse has not been given his due. As his contribution has passed unnoticed, he may be considering joining a particular party where his work will be recognized. So, if he believes in our party (NCP), then nothing can be done (stopping him from entering the NCP),” he said.
It may be recalled that last week, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister Gulabrao Patil had claimed that Khadse would soon be changing his political loyalties while remarking that he was not aware of which party the BJP leader would eventually join and with whom he (Khadse) was in touch with.
Since the past few days, speculation has been rife that Khadse would be joining the NCP fold. Shiv Sena leaders like Abdul Sattar, Uday Samant and Patil have been actively wooing Khadse to join the Sena.
After being denied a ticket in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls and following the defeat of his daughter Rohini Khadse in the same election, Khadse has been vocal about his disenchantment with the BJP.
Ever since the 2019 Assembly polls elections the divide between Khadse and the state BJP leadership has only fuelled speculation that the influential Other Backward Class (OBC) leader might trigger a possible intra-party revolt by its notable OBC leaders led by Khadse, former Ministers Pankaja Munde and Prakash Mehta and other leaders who were either denied a ticket or suffered upset defeats in the election.
Khadse was reportedly upset with then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s leader in the State, for the latter’s ‘authoritarian style’ of running the party and eliminating his potential ‘rivals’ in the party. The BJP OBC leaders had alleged that Fadnavis for engineering their defeats and denying them tickets.
Khadse has consistently maintained that there had been a ‘conspiracy’ by certain leaders in the State BJP unit to ensure the defeats of Pankaja Munde and his daughter, Rohini Khadse and that the move was aimed at finishing off his political career.
Since then, rumours have been flying thick and fast of his likelihood of his joining either the Sena or the NCP.
