Mumbai: In a thinly-veiled attack on former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, sulking senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khadse Thursday said that the current leadership of the party in Maharashtra exhibits the traits of “grudge and envy”.
Mr Khadse was speaking to reporters at Parli at a function to mark the birth anniversary of late BJP leader, Gopinath Munde, who, he remarked, never backstabbed anyone.
“(Late) Gopinath Munde was a generous and liberal leader. The current party leadership, however, possesses traits of grudge and envy," the BJP leader from northern Maharashtra who belongs to the OBC community, said.
“We trusted some people but they betrayed us. In just one month, Maharashtra saw an 80-hour chief minister. The time, at times, does miracles," he said.
After the Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP, Mr Fadnavis last month joined hands with NCP’s Ajit Pawar to form the government but it collapsed within 80 hours.
Mr Khadse alleged a “conspiracy” behind the defeat of his daughter Rohini Khadse and late Munde’s daughter and former minister Pankaja Munde in the October 21 Assembly polls. However, he maintained that he was not “unhappy” with the party.
Venting his anger while addressing the gathering, Mr Khadse said that Pankaja will continue to remain with the party. However, he added that he was not sure about continuing in the BJP. His statement assumes political significance as he may decide to quit the BJP.
