Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khadse on Friday officially joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the presence of Sharad Pawar. He arrived Mumbai for the induction ceremony on Thursday via a chopper from Jalgaon.
On Wednesday, Khadse submitted his resignation to Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and decided to come into NCP’s fold. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray welcomed him to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) family comprising of Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP.
Along with 70 workers, Khadse, his daughter Rohini Khadse and his wife Mandakini joined the NCP. Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil said that the entry of Khadse will help strengthen the party across the state.
“I welcome Eknath Khadse ji, an astute politician and an influential leader from Maharashtra into the NCP family. His vast experience in politics will definitely strengthen the party furthermore and together we will work with the common vision of a progressive,” NCP leader Praful Patel said.
While speaking on the occasion, Khadse said that he never thought he would leave BJP for which he worked 40 years. “I worked to strengthen the party for 40 years but I was backstabbed and insulted,” he added.
Earlier, after resigning from the BJP, Khadse blamed Devendra Fadnavis for his resignation. He alleged that the former Chief Minister instructed the police to file a “false” harassment case against him.
“Devendra Fadnavis destroyed my life. I feel sad about quitting the BJP but I have no choice. Fadnavis instructed the police to file a case against me on false allegations of harassment by a woman. I came clean on the corruption charges levelled against me,” Khadse said.
Khadse’s exit from the BJP comes as a huge blow to the saffron party and ‘Fadnavis brand’ in Maharashtra.
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