Maharashtra Minister of State for Agriculture and Marketing Sadabhau Khot was formally expelled on Monday from the Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Paksha for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities. Mr. Khot, who was the tallest leader in the party after Mr. Shetti, is expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The announcement was made by Swabhimani Paksha leader Dashrath Sawant who headed a four-member inquiry panel against Mr. Khot. Mr. Sawant said, “His actions have tarnished the party’s image. Besides, his activities have discredited the party’s standing among farmers.”
Under the scanner
Last month, Mr. Khot had been grilled by the core committee members of his party for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities. He then said he would never again appear in front of such ‘inquisitions’. The Minister was reportedly asked to clarify his stance on a number of thorny issues including alleged soft-pedalling on part of the BJP government to resolve the farmers’ agitation.
The ouster marks the end of an eight-month-long rift between Mr. Shetti and Mr. Khot who have been comrades since 2004. Both of them are noted leaders in the farmers’ movement in the State and Mr. Khot has been associated with the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana since the 1990s.
The rift came out in the open after Mr. Shetti censured Mr. Khot for failing to actively agitate with farmers and remaining conspicuously absent from the Swabhimani Paksha’s protest against the BJP government on the tur dal issue. Mr. Khot also reportedly failed to attend Mr. Shetti’s Atmaklesh Yatra (introspection rally), which was targeted at the State government.
Mr. Khot was the only representative of the Swabhimani Paksha in the Fadnavis cabinet. Mr. Shetti joined hands with the BJP before the 2014 Lok Sabha election and has since publicly repented being part of the alliance. Mr. Khot gravitated towards the BJP following his spat with Mr. Shetti. Observers say with Mr. Khot’s expulsion, Mr. Shetti may consider pulling out of the BJP.
Last month, there appeared to be a signal of cooling ties after Mr. Shetti, while speaking in Solapur, expressed confidence that Mr. Khot would not leave the Swabhimani Paksha.
Ties hit rock bottom
The two have been at loggerheads following the Kolhapur Zilla Parishad elections. Mr. Khot was said to be disgruntled after Mr. Shetti objected to nominating his son, Sagar Khot, to contest the polls.
In June, their relations hit rock bottom after Mr. Khot returned a sum of money that Mr. Shetti had once lent to help his family.
