Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse, facing allegations of corruption and underworld links with dreaded don Dawood Ibrahim, resigned on 4th June.
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Khadse, the senior most Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in the state, met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday morning at the latter’s official residence “Varsha” and submitted his resignation.
The countdown for Khadse’s exit had begun on Thursday after Fadnavis met BJP’s president Amit Shah and submitted a “factual report” about the allegations faced by the number-two minister in the Maharashtra Cabinet.
Another factor that will have to be considered is which portfolios the Shiv Sena, which is a partner in the government, will be looking for.
Along with the Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party, BJP-ally Shiv Sena had also been mounting pressure for Khadse’s resignation.
Eknath Khadse, one of the BJP’s senior-most cabinet ministers in Maharashtra, stepped down today over allegations of involvement in a land scam and other acts of impropriety.
But Khadse, the minister who allegedly misused his office and damaged Modi’s calling card – corruption-free government – had to be shown the door.
It is likely the chief minister will take charge of revenue ministry but Mr Mungantiwar is another possible name for the portfolio.
Khadse’s close aide Gajanan Patil was arrested for demanding Rs 30 crore bribe for transfer of a plot of land in Thane. “A retired HC Judge will be appointed to conduct inquiry”, he added. “Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra is also saying he is innocent of the allegations levelled against him”, the Sena said in the editorial. The Chief Minister later followed it up with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Police have said that no call was made or received on my mobile from Dawood Ibrahim”, Khadse said, referring to hacker Manish Bhangale’s claim.
The real political decision, however, is how high a level the government would take the matter, he said.
The state BJP functionary quoted earlier said the BJP president had asked Fadnavis to seek Khadse’s resignation after elections to the 11 seats of Maharashtra legislative council were over. Khadse holds nine portfolios in the cabinet.
The party did not want to portray that it had left senior leader like Khadse to lurch after the barrage of allegations. Taking any action against Khadse, a section of leaders believe, may prove counter-productive as it did in the case of B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka.An influential OBC leader, Khadse is believed to have support among MLAs and local corporators.
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Khadse told Mirror on Sunday that he had not suggested any names for the second-in-command role. Khadse said there was nothing illegal about the transaction and he was being defamed.
