Eknath Khadse fights to remain in the Cabinet despite of a series of allegations

MUMBAI|NEW DELHI: Maharashtra revenue minister Eknath Khadse is fighting to remain in the state Cabinet after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly told the BJP leadership that he was not in favour of the minister’s continuation following a series of allegations against him. BJP president Amit Shah is believed to have asked Fadnavis to wait for a day or two as he weighs options.

Fadnavis on Wednesday met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss Khadse’s fate. After almost an hourlong meeting, he told reporters that he had submitted his report to Shah. “I have submitted the report to him (Shah) and also had a discussion on this. The party will decide whatever appropriate action has to be taken,” Fadnavis said. The CM’s opinion, according to BJP insiders, was against Khadse.

Khadse is believed to have given his version on the land purchase controversy to BJP general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, Saroj Pandey a couple of days back, after the issue came to the attention of the party leadership. Pandey, subsequently discussed the issue with Fadnavis as well.

The controversy gained political momentum after BJP ally Shiv Sena went public against Khadse and Aam Aadmi Party’s Anjali Damania began a hunger strike demanding the minister’ resignation. BJP sources indicated that Fadnavis had reasoned against the party supporting Khadse. “The party will not benefit by standing by Khadse on this issue,” sources quoted Fadnavis' argument to the party leadership.

Fadnavis has managed to maintain a clean image as CM so far. Sources said the CM’s report questioned Khadse family’s purchase of a three-acre plot that was under dispute in Pune’s Bhosari. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation had claimed that it had acquired the land but plot owner, Abbas Ukani, filed a case against MIDC in the high court urging it to either acquire the land under the state’s land acquisition act or compensate him with another plot.

Even while the case was on, Ukani sold the plot to Khadse’s family for just Rs 3.75 crore. The market value of the plot is estimated to be more than Rs 35 crore.