Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Eknath Khadse has said he would be returning to the BJP in a fortnight. Khadse quit the BJP in 2016, after almost four decades in the party. He had first resigned as Maharashtra minister following allegations of irregularities in MIDC Bhosari land case. In 2020, he joined the undivided NCP after alleging that Devendra Fadnavis was trying to finish off his political career. Reacting to Khadse’s decision, an NCP (SP) spokesperson said, “It will not make any difference to our party. It is not a big loss.” “If anyone is joining BJP by reposing trust in PM Narendra Modi, we welcome them. It is not official yet, but if he (Khadse) is joining BJP, we will welcome him as well,” Fadnavis told reporters on Monday.

 

Talking to reporters on Sunday, Khadse expressed his gratitude towards NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar for helping him in distress. Once among the tallest BJP leaders in Maharashtra, Khadse was relegated to political wilderness for almost five years before Pawar rehabilitated him in undivided NCP . “I have decided to go back to the BJP as it is my home. I have served the party for four decades. I express my gratitude towards Sharad Pawar who helped me during distress,” Khadse said. “I have spoken to BJP President J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

 

I will join the party in New Delhi in next 15 days. Once I get a call, I will visit Delhi,” he said. Last year, Khadse chose to side with Sharad Pawar when the NCP split after Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde Government. On Sunday, State Minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan termed Khadse an “extinguished lamp”.