As Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse dug his heels in on Friday, the BJP chief Amit Shah reportedly told Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to inform Mr. Khadse that he will have to obey party orders, even if it asks him to step down.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is said to have briefed Mr. Shah in New Delhi on Thursday on the controversy surrounding the Minister.
BJP for voluntary move
According to sources, while the top BJP leaders want him out of the Cabinet, they would prefer that Mr. Khadse step down voluntarily, which does not seem to be happening.
“As a respble [responsible] Agri[culture] Min[ister] [I] am focusing on farmers’ issues. Allow me to do so inst[e]d of clarifying to baseless & planned allegations An appl to media,” tweeted Mr. Khadse on Friday evening. According to party sources, Mr. Gadkari has conveyed the message to him and has also asked him to not stretch the issue. Mr. Khadse, who is one of the few BJP Ministers in Maharashtra with no RSS background, was rumoured to have visited Nagpur. However, he had to settle for a telephonic conversation with Mr. Gadkari.
Meanwhile, Mr. Khadse’s daughter-in-law Raksha, also an MP, is said to have held a meeting with BJP leadership on Thursday night.
Sources close to Mr. Khadse accept that the pressure on him is mounting. “But he hasn’t given up. Resignation from the Ministry is equal to political suicide.
Being the undisputed ruler of Jalgaon and Dhule district for last many years, he has created a number of enemies who are ready to pounce on him. He will fight to the last,” said a close aide.
Handles 12 Ministries
Mr. Khadse currently handles 12 Ministries, including the important ones like revenue, excise and agriculture. The CM is under pressure to go in for a Cabinet expansion as, with two years gone, MLAs within the party and allies have begun complaining. The Cabinet reshuffle, when it happens, could see new faces likely to be put in charge of ministries currently under Mr. Khadse.
Adding to Mr. Khadse’s problems, Damodar Tandel, president of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti accused him of accepting bribes from owners of purse seine trawlers before allowing them to go fishing. Mr. Khadse denied the allegation.
