Disgruntled Khadse meets Pawa

Mumbai: Amid speculations over his future within the party, Maharashtra BJP veteran Eknath Khadse Monday left for Delhi to meet the central leadership. Just days ago, he had warned the party that he would think of alternatives if his humiliation continued.

A close aide of the former minister said, “Mr Khadse has sought an appointment with senior leaders of the BJP in Delhi. The chief talking point of his meeting will be about ending his alienation within the party.”

The aide claimed that Mr Khadse might discuss with the central leadership how the BJP’s treatment towards him was causing “unrest” in the OBC (other backward class) leadership. Incidentally, Mr Khadse hails from the Leva Patil community, which falls under the OBC category in Maharashtra.

On Saturday, Mr Khadse had told reporters, “I am not God. I am a human being and have emotions. I don't want to leave the party for whose growth I have worked hard for more than four decades. I am still ready to work for the party. But If I continue to face the humiliation of being kept away from decision-making, I will have to think differently.”

He told media persons that he had been kept out of core committee meetings and the decision-making process of the state BJP.

Mr Khadse had been openly critical of the state leadership after the BJP’s below-par show in the October Assembly polls.

Last Wednesday, he targeted former chief minister and present Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Devendra Fadnavis, for the BJP garnering a lesser number of seats than expected in the recent Assembly polls.

He also blamed certain party leaders for the defeat of his daughter Rohini Khadse (from the Muktainagar constituency) and ex-minister Pankaja Munde (from Parli constituency) in the Assembly elections.