There was a meeting between NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader and former Maharashtra cabinet minister Eknathrao Khadse and BJP leader Vinod Tawde. After this meeting, there is speculation whether Khadse can return to BJP. It is noteworthy that Khadse has been the face of the OBC community for BJP in Maharashtra for many years.
It is said that Khadse, along with Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde, had worked hard for years to strengthen the BJP in Maharashtra. However, due to differences with Devendra Fadnavis, he left BJP and joined Sharad Pawar's party, and continued his political journey with NCP for some time. But recently, speculations have intensified regarding his possible return to BJP.
Eknath Khadse's influence is still considerable in North Maharashtra. They have had a strong hold in areas like Jalgaon, Dhule, Chalisgaon and Manmad for a long time. Therefore, political analysts are not ready to consider this meeting as just a normal meeting. If Khadse returns to BJP, it can prove to be a big development in Maharashtra politics.
Khadse's daughter, Rohini Khadse, is currently the state president of the women's wing of Sharad Pawar's NCP. At the same time, his daughter-in-law, Raksha Khadse, is a Union Minister and a senior BJP leader. The different political affiliations of the family give an interesting twist to these events. Khadse's return to BJP in future will be considered an important political development in the state.
Meanwhile, Eknath Khadse himself has made his stand clear in front of the media regarding Vinod Tawde. Vinod Tawde had come to my residence in Mumbai to meet Union Minister of State for Defense Khadse. At that time he also met me, inquired about my health and discussed personal matters for some time. Khadse has made it clear that there was no political discussion in this meeting.
After joining NCP, party president Sharad Pawar expressed confidence in him and gave him a chance in the Legislative Council. After this, Khadse continuously criticized BJP. However, as political developments in the state gained momentum, there were occasional talks of his return to the BJP. Especially during the Lok Sabha elections, Khadse had expressed his desire to rejoin the party to BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Although it is being said that the central leadership had adopted a positive attitude at that time, but due to opposition from some senior leaders of the state, this decision did not go ahead.
