Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khadse joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday in the presence of party chairman Sharad Pawar. Khadse, 68, who had resigned from the BJP on Wednesday, was incorporated into the NCP at the party’s headquarters in Mumbai.
“I have fought my whole life. I have sacrificed my life for the BJP, but now I will work for NCP with all my might, ”said Khadse upon joining Pawar’s party.
During his induction ceremony, Khadse said that some high-ranking BJP leaders advised him to join the NCP. “Not only my supporters, but even some BJP leaders advised me to join NCP. I asked some high-level BJP leaders if I should go to another party, they advised me to join the NCP, ”he said.
Eknath Khadse with PNC chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Friday (Photo: ANI)
After his resignation, Khadse had accused the former Prime Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, of “trying to destroy his life and political career”. He had blamed Fadnavis for his decision to leave the party. “False cases were filed against me including one case of sexual abuse and two cases by ACB (Anti-Corruption Office). Now, I will reveal who has taken how many plots, ”said the newcomer to the PNC. “I have never used a woman for politics. It is not in my nature, “he added.
Khadse left the Fadnavis ministry in 2016 after resigning as finance minister. He also resigned from 11 other departments after facing corruption charges. Khadse was with the BJP for more than four decades.
Discussing Fadnavis’ swearing-in ceremony at 5 am during the government formation fight in Maharashtra in 2019, Khadse said: “Some are raising the issue of morality in my case. Where was this moral when the oath was taken at 5 in the morning to form the government? “
The NCP, along with the Shiv Sena and Congress, is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a political coalition formed in 2019 after the assembly elections in Maharashtra.
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