Maha land scam: BJP in catch-22 over action on Eknath Khadse

Despite Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis having submitted a “factual report” to party president Amit Shah, whom he in met on Thursday, the BJP doesn’t want to upset its applecart before the state legislative council elections scheduled for June 10.

BJP has fielded five candidates in the state council polls whereas it has sufficient votes just for four and is dependent on non-Shiv Sena allies for winning the remaining one seat. In such a scenario any action against Khadge, who remained defiant despite a flurry of corruption charges against him, could lead to embarrassment in the biennial polls. 

After a meeting with party chief Amit Shah in the wake of the raging row over Khadse, who also allegedly received telephone calls from a Dawood Ibrahim aide, Fadnavis said. “I have submitted a factual report on the matters which have come up recently. We have discussed them as well. The party will direct whatever appropriation has to be taken ahead,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Khadse has been attacked by political rivals and BJP ally Shiv Sena over the alleged impropriety over purchase of a land belonging to the government-owned MIDC in Pune at a throwaway price.

BJP sources said Shah considers allegations against Khadse “serious” and political rivals were using them to put the party in the dock over its claim of providing “corruption-free” government.

Khadse is in a spot over the purchase of 3-acre Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation land in Bhosari allegedly at a low price of around Rs 3.75 crore from its original owner in the name of his wife and son-in-law. The market value of the land is reportedly Rs 40 crore.

However, the political stature of Khadse, an OBC leader who was a strong contender for the chief minister’s post, is also weighing in the mind of the party’s leadership before any action could be taken against him. Khadse has insisted that he has done no wrong.

The veteran leader has projected the matter as a conflict between the OBC and the Brahmin leadership of the state unit. Soon after controversy erupted against him posters eulogizing Gopinath Munde, the late OBC leader from Maharashtra, have appeared in Mumbai and Pune.

Later on Thursday Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him on the latest developments in the Khadse case.