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Congress, NCP send feelers to Eknath Khadse

Last Updated 25 January 2018, 16:13 IST

Veteran BJP leader and former Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse, is receiving feelers from both, Congress and NCP.

Since 1989, Khadse, 65, had represented Muktainagar constituency from Jalgaon district in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

From 1995-99, when the Shiv Sena-BJP saffron alliance government was in power - then headed by Dr Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane - Khadse was a minister and handled important portfolios including Finance.

After the 2014 elections, he lost the bid for the post of Chief Minister – but instead settled for 10 portfolios-- Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Earthquake Rehabilitation, Minorities Development and Wakf, Agriculture and Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries and State Excise.

In June, 2016, Khadse had to resign in the wake of charges of corruption. However, he has not been indicted in courts - still kept out of government, leaving him sulking.

On Thursday, at a function held in Jalgaon to celebrate the birthday of Congress leader Rajiv Patil - in presence of Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan, Khadse spoke out.

"I do not want or desire to leave BJP. But I am being pushed out of the party...and this I have told a senior BJP leader," said Khadse, who is popularly known as Natha Bhau. "I need answers....what corruption I had done...how much wealth I had amassed. There has been an inquiry against me," he said.

While Ashok Chavan came all in praise of BJP veteran. "When I was the Chief Minister, Khadse was the leader of Oppoistion, I know how he worked....Natha Bhau, don't wait to be pushed out," he  said.

A few days ago, senior NCP leader and former Deputy Chief Ajit Pawar shared dais at Jalgaon in the birthday celebrations of NCP MLA Satish Patil.

Meanwhile, Finance and Planning Minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar expressed hope and asserted that Khadse would not leave the party. "He has worked for the party and we all know his contribution," he said.  

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(Published 25 January 2018, 12:04 IST)

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