Senior Maharashtra leader Eknath Khadse quits BJP, to join NCP

एकनाथ खडसे राष्ट्रवादी काँग्रेस पक्षात प्रवेश करणार असल्याची जोरदार चर्चा सुरू आहे. त्याबाबत अनेक मुहूर्त सांगण्यात आले. मात्र, हे मुहूर्त आपण दिले नसल्याचे सांगून खडसे यांनी स्पष्ट शब्दांत नकार दिला होता. मात्र, आता खडसे यांनी राजीनामा दिला असून त्यांनी पक्षाला रामराम ठोकला आहे.

13:19 October 21

Senior Maharashtra leader Eknath Khadse quits BJP, to join NCP

Jalgaon (Maharashtra): Senior BJP leader from Maharashtra Eknath Khadse has resigned from the party, state minister Jayant Patil said on Wednesday.

NCP leader and Maharashtra Minister Jayant Patil said that Khadse has resigned from the saffron party and would later this week be inducted into the NCP.

"Eknath Khadse promoted BJP in Maharashtra over years. I have been informed that BJP Leader Eknath Khadse has resigned from his party. We have decided to give him an entry in NCP. He will be formally inducted into NCP at 2 pm on Friday," Patil announced at a press conference.

Besides, several other BJP leaders, including many activists at various levels, are likely to follow suit and shall be followed by other elected legislators later, said Patil.

"Khadse Saheb has expressed his willingness to work under the leadership of NCP President Sharad Pawar... He has been subjected to great injustice in his party... Other elected leaders would enter NCP at a subsequent stage...," the NCP state chief said.

Read:Forecast of Khadse's exit from BJP made every day: Fadnavis

Pertinently, Khadse had earlier today told ETV Bharat that he would be resigning from the BJP.

According to a news agency, Khadse was unhappy since he was made to resign as a minister in the then Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in 2016 on allegations of corruption.

However, state BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye claimed that the party has not received his (Khadse's) resignation letter so far.

(With inputs from agencies)