Eknath Khadse to return to Cabinet?

Mumbai: Political circles in the state are abuzz with reports of Eknath Khadse’s return to the Cabinet soon. Mr Khadse, who had to resign over allegations of corruption in the Bhosari land deal in June 2016, has already been waiting for the same.

A one-member investigation committee, headed by retired Justice Dinkar Zoting, has submitted its report to the chief secretary, which did not find any illegality in his family members’ purchase of the land in Pune. But given the requirement of Mr Khadse’s political presence in the state right now, those strictures will be overlooked and the leader would be taken back in the Cabinet even as a CM Devendra Fadnavis has cleared his return, as per the buzz. A final decision on his return will be taken after consultations with BJP’s national president Amit Shah.

Mr Khadse was accused of misusing his position for his relatives’ benefits. His wife and son-in-law bought Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) plot in Bhosari, Pune from the land’s original owner. This transaction was at the centre of the controversy. Also, Anti Corruption Bureau caught his alleged P.A. Gajanan Patil while receiving bribe. Another charge against Mr Khadse was made over his alleged conversation with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim by self-acclaimed hacker Manish Bhangale.

However, MIDC plot issue had the most serious impact on Mr Khadse’s political image, thereby compelling him to resign on June 5, 2016. To investigate the matter, the state government had set up a one-member committee of retired high court justice Dinkar Zoting, a report of which has now been submitted to chief secretary, Sumit Mallik.

Sources confirmed that the committee has cleared him of any procedural or financial irregularity. Political observers believe that the state BJP too needs an experienced figure like Mr Khadse in the Cabinet to handle the various political crises the party is going through. In the recent farmers’ stir in the state, many had even conveyed to the political leadership that had Mr Khadse been a minister, BJP would not have to face such embarrassment and political damage.

This has paved way for Mr Khadse’s return in the Cabinet. Final decision will be taken in Delhi, said sources.

Allegations made against Khadse

His wife Mandakini and son-in-law Girish bought an MIDC plot in Bhosari, Pune from the original owner, Mr Ukani. According to Mr Ukani, he never received the full compensation. But allegations claim that they can’t buy the land as the state has given compensation to the original owner. Mr Khadse was charged for hiding this information in a government meeting regarding the compensation under his chairmanship.
Hacker Manish Bhangale levelled allegations on Mr Khadse that the latter had made many calls to and from the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Mr Bhangale claimed that he received this information after hacking Pakistan Telephone Company’s data.
The third allegation on Mr Khadse was about his personal assistant Gajanan Patil demanding a bribe. But it was later cleared that Mr Patil was never Mr Khadse’s personal assistant.

What does this mean for CM Fadnavis?

When Mr Khadse had to resign in June 2016, it was said that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis already wanted Mr Khadse out from the cabinet. Mr Khadse being senior to Mr Fadnavis in the party and the same was showing in his style of functioning which was apparently hurting Mr Fadnavis. Mr Khadse was also seen as a front-runner for the post of CM. Considering these factors, Mr Khadse’s return could boost the anti-Fadnavis camp in BJP. But it’d be safe to say that after winning local bodies, Zilla Parishad and municipality elections with such a huge margin under his leadership, CM Fadnavis has demolished all other leaders from Maharashtra BJP and is now much ahead of them in the political position. “Mr Khadse will have no other way than to compromise with CM Fadnavis”, said a senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.