‘I Will Stay With Sharad Pawar’: Eknath Khadse on Delhi Visit, BJP Return Speculation
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) leader Eknath Khadse has confirmed that he visited Delhi and met senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, he asserted that he is not interested in rejoining the BJP and will remain with Sharad Pawar.
Mr. Khadse, a former BJP leader and currently a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from the NCP (SP), released a video statement on Saturday addressing speculation about his political moves. He claimed that Amit Shah had called him to Delhi and asked him to join the BJP, but some senior BJP leaders expressed reservations.
“Senior BJP leaders told me that if I was inducted into the party, local leaders would not work. They even said they would ensure the party loses the Lok Sabha seat if I was taken back,” Mr. Khadse said in the video. He did not specify which seat he was referring to.
His daughter-in-law Raksha Khadse is a BJP MP from Raver in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district and currently a Union minister. Mr. Khadse’s remarks come amid reports that BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde recently visited his residence in Mumbai, reigniting speculation about his return.
Mr. Khadse clarified that the meeting with Mr. Tawde was a courtesy call. “He enquired about my health and there was no political discussion. I invited him to my birthday function. I have also invited Nitin Gadkari, and he has told me he will attend,” the MLC said.
“I want to make it clear that I have no interest in joining the BJP now. I am with Sharad Pawar and will remain with him till the end. My workers may be interested in joining the BJP, but I am not,” he asserted.
In a related development, Mr. Khadse met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence ‘Matoshri’ on Friday, sparking further speculation. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was also present during what sources described as a courtesy meeting.
State Minister Girish Mahajan dismissed reports that he had stalled Mr. Khadse’s return to the BJP. “How can I stop Khadse’s entry? He has a direct hotline to Delhi. I am a small man and do not even have a hotline to Mumbai. If he has received a green signal from the top leadership, that is fine. I am not an astrologer, nor am I Sanjay Raut,” Mr. Mahajan quipped. He added that state minister Gulabrao Patil would be better placed to comment.
