BJP in a fix as state unit backs ‘tainted’ minister Khadse

As expected controversial Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse was not ready to give up without a fight. A day after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis submitted what he called a factual report on allegations against Khadse to party president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, state BJP president Raosaheb Danve on Friday ruled out any “party action” against the OBC leader till the charges were proved.

Talking to reporters in Pune, Danve termed allegations against Khadse as “political” in nature. Danve said the party has decided to adopt a “cautious approach towards them”, adding “we believe that there is no substance in them.” He also said that there was no pressure to remove him from the state cabinet but added that Khadse would face action if the allegations against him were proved in a court of law.

Asked about chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s meeting with party chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday over the Khadse issue, Danve said, “The chief minister submitted his report to Shah. But that does not necessarily mean that the report was against Khadse. It could be in his favour also.” Danve, who was in Jalna to pay respects to the memory of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde on his second death anniversary, told reporters that since there was no “substance” in the allegations against the revenue minister, “there is no need for any action”. 

Khadse, a senior BJP leader, has come under cloud over a host of allegations including irregularities in a land deal in Pune and calls allegedly received from fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim’s residence in Karachi on his mobile phone. 

Khadse, who is in his home town Jalgaon in North Maharashtra amid political heat, has denied all these allegations and said he would abide by the party decision in his case. “I will follow my party’s instructions and will abide by its decisions,” he had said.