Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse’s exit from the Devendra Fadnavis government over corruptions allegations has set the stage for a cabinet reshuffle, an exercise that the chief minister had been hoping to avoid. Khadse will meet BJP President Amit Shah on June 7.
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Later, a Raj Bhavan official said following the chief minister’s recommendation, Khadse’s resignation was accepted. Khadse has denied any links to Dawood Ibrahim. He has been accused of using his powers as the revenue minister to help his kin purchase a three acre plot in Pune. A section in the party also backs education minister Vinod Tawde for the role.
Khadse, a strongman from Khandesh region, went to CM Fadnavis’ residence on Saturday morning and formally handed over his resignation. “Under such circumstances, if Khadse doesn’t resign it will send a wrong message among the people”, a BJP leader told IANS on the conditions of anonymity.
After a meeting with party chief Amit Shah in the wake of the raging row over Khadse, who also allegedly received telephone calls from a Dawood Ibrahim aide, Fadnavis said he has submitted a report to Shah and they discussed the matter.
“Why is the PM not investigating Eknath Khadse?” asked Congress leader Sushmita Dev. AAP national spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon said, “We are relieved that finally, after he was totally exposed in the past few weeks, BJP removed Khadse from office. BJP always talks of morals and values but in the Khadse case, not enough action has been taken”, Nirupam said.
A state BJP functionary who did not wish to be named said Khadse’s vacancy would most likely be filled up by another prominent OBC leader from the party adding the candidate had not been finalised.
Khadse had earlier been in trouble over alleged phone calls made to his mobile number from Dawood Ibrahim’s Karachi residence. “However they have not submitted any such evidence”, claimed Khadse.
The cabinet member said that while corruption charges are levelled against many ministers in BJP-ruled states, only a cabinet member from Maharashtra was sacked. “I won’t give up my fast till the chief minister gives me a written assurance that the probe against Khadse will be completed in six months”. Handing it over to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Fadnavis said, “Eknath Khadseji has demanded an inquiry into the allegations against him”.
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Opposition parties too have stepped up their attack on the ruling BJP over Khadse.
