One day after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Khadse, who will join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said that 10 BJP MLAs were in contact with him, but that they may not leave the party now. . He said that some former legislators and local leaders from northern Maharashtra will join the NCP, along with him, in the presence of the head of the party, Sharad Pawar. He also claimed that the PNC had offered him a candidacy for the Assembly elections, after the BJP denied him a ballot last year, even as he stepped up the attack on former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying that the BJP’s formula to take late classes together was ruled out. , after Fadnavis took over party affairs in the state.
Khadse was a prominent BJP leader from northern Maharashtra and enjoys significant control in the region. He comes from Leva Patil, one of the CBO communities with a sizeable population in northern Maharashtra.
The region comprises 35 seats in the Assembly. Of these, the BJP won 13 seats, one less than in 2014, in the state Assembly elections held last year. The NCP won seven seats, while the Shiv Sena six and the Congress five MLA in the region. AIMIM won two seats and two independents were also elected in the last Assembly elections.
With the induction of Khadse, the leaders of the CPN hope that the party will strengthen in the region. It is considered close to him sitting BJP MLA Sanjay Savkare (Bhusawal). “Most of the leaders close to Khadse were denied tickets in the last assembly elections. This was done to cut Khadse to size, ”said a close associate of Khadse. Of the 11 Assembly seats in Jalgaon district, Khadse’s hometown, the majority has a significant population from the Leva Patil community that supports the 68-year-old leader, who won the Muktainagar elections for six consecutive terms.
Read also | Devendra Fadnavis calls Eknath Khadse’s accusations against him ‘half true’
“I have the support of more than 10 MLA in office, but none will join us as the anti-desertion law will go into effect and we do not want unnecessary elections during the coronavirus pandemic. But there are between 15 and 16 former legislators, who will gradually join the NCP. Some of them will join me on Friday, ”Khadse told HT.
Also, his daughter-in-law and Raver BJP Raksha Khadse can follow in his footsteps. “With Raksha Khadse, the BJP is likely to lose a sitting deputy as well as many MLAs in the near future,” said one of his closest associates, requesting anonymity.
Continuing his attack on Devendra Fadnavis, now the leader of the Opposition, Khadse said that the BJP was considered a party of Brahmins and Baniyas.
“To get rid of this label and expand the party’s social base, veteran BJP leader Vasantji Bhagwat suggested the formula MADHAV (which stands for ‘M’ali’, ‘Dha’ngar and’ V’anjari communities). The formula helped us change the face of the party, but shortly after Fadnavis took office, it halted its implementation. He deliberately denied electoral tickets to many leaders of the OBC communities who would easily have won the Assembly elections, ”he alleged.
“I had so many opportunities to join other parties as they too were willing to host me. But being loyal to the BJP, I didn’t take that step. In 2019, after the BJP denied me a ticket to the Assembly polls, high-level PNC leaders such as Ajit Pawar, Dilip Walse Patil contacted me. The party had also submitted its AB form to contest the polls. If I had taken the opportunity, I would have been elected as an MLA again, ”he said.
Attacking Fadnavis, he said that it is because of his “capable leadership” that the BJP is not in government despite winning the maximum number of seats. “The situation would have been different if the leadership had decided to join Shiv Sena,” he said, raising questions about Fadnavis’ leadership. “My decision to join the NCP is immoral and taking the oath at 5 am along with the respected Ajit Dada Pawar was a moral move,” the former BJP leader scoffed.
On Thursday, Khadse arrived in Mumbai by helicopter along with his wife Mandatai and daughter Rohini to formally join the NCP. Also under consideration is the plan to organize a large event in the Jalgaon district, where all its supporters will formally join the ruling party in the presence of the PNC leaders. The event will be organized later as political gatherings are not yet allowed in the state.
Damania refutes his accusations
Social activist Anjali Damania refuted former BJP leader Eknath Khadse’s claims that she harassed him. Damania, who had brought the case against Khadse for using derogatory language against her, alleged that Khadse harassed her.
“I brought corruption charges against Chhagan Bhujbal and Nitin Gadkari as well, but they did not harass me like Khadse did,” Damania said. “Khadse and his assistants brought 32 cases against me in six districts of Maharashtra.
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