Mumbai: Former Maharashtra BJP leader Eknath Khadse on Friday joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the presence of the party's chief Sharad Pawar.
Sulking since his unceremonious exit from the Devendra Fadnavis-led ministry in 2016 over land grab allegations, Khadse (68) on Wednesday quit the BJP. The same day, state NCP chief Jayant Patil announced he would be joining the Pawar-led party.
Meanwhile, if sources are to be believed, a meeting between Sharad Pawar and Jitendra Awhad, who is the Cabinet Minister for housing, had taken place before Khadse's entry. NCP leader Ajit Pawar was not present at the event as he is currently in quarantine.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a press conference and announced a relief package for farmers. The absence of CM in the meeting drops a hint that an internal rift is growing between Mahavikas Aghadi and NCP.
Discussion between Sharad Pawar and Jitendra AwhadAccording to sources, rumours were doing round that Sharad Pawar may assign Awhad's responsibilities to Khadse which invited tensions. But Pawar has denied all the speculations and has put an end to the rumours, saying that there will be no change in the cabinet. It was initially suspected that Eknath Khadse would be given the post of Agriculture Minister. However, Shiv Sena is not ready to give up the ministry post at present. Therefore, the NCP finally had to sacrifice Jitendra Awhad's position. But Pawar has denied all the rumours.
Absence of Chief Minister
While Eknath Khadse was joining the party, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a package of Rs 10,000 crore to help the farmers affected by the drought. It was expected that such a big announcement would be made in the presence of MVA leaders. It is believed that such a sudden announcement has upset Shiv Sena supremo.
Kirit Somaiya's attack on Mahavikas front
Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya held a press conference after Eknath Khadse joined NCP and highlighted the mismanagement of Mumbai Municipal Corporation and land scam. However, BJP leader's gathering did not attract much attention.
Shiv Sena was annoyed with Eknath Khadse's entry. When it was announced that Khadse would join the NCP, Minister of State for Revenue Abdul Sattar had earlier slammed Khadse. But he said he had joined the NCP.
Khadse was upset over the allegations levelled against him during the then CM Fadnavis's regime and he was also removed from the cabinet. It was also rumoured that Khadse was also in contact with Shiv Sena but things did not work out.
READ: Former Maharashtra BJP leader Eknath Khadse joins NCP
Shiv Sena's call to Pankaja Munde
Shiv Sena leader, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil today invited BJP leader Pankaja Munde to join Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena leader Arjun Khotkar had also summoned Pankaja yesterday. There is talk that Pankaja, who has been angry with Khadse for joining NCP, will join Shiv Sena.
Pankaja Munde had now appealed to the activists to cross the border. Much of this was interpreted after Khadse's entry. But in every Dussehra festival, it is seen that Pankaja makes such statements.
NCP's win
With Khadse joining NCP, the party has taken over BJP which may trigger OBC voters and will shift them from BJP. Khadse's entry into the NCP had been under discussion for several days. Although some of the leaders expressed displeasure over Khadse joining NCP but Sharad Pawar welcomed him.
Eknath Khadse has joined NCP along with his daughter Rohini, who lost the 2019 Assembly election for her father’s Muktainagar seat in Jalgaon district.
Khadse's daughter-in-law Rakshatai is currently an MP from Raver constituency. She was elected on a BJP ticket. He has announced to stay in BJP. It is being speculated that Eknath Khadse may have some political agenda behind this.
READ: Khadse’s entry into NCP will bring changes in MVA equations
