Devendra Fadnavis mum over Eknath Khadse’s future in party

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis continued to be  non-committal about the future of senior party leader and former revenue minister Eknath Khadse.

The two leaders shared the dais at Bhusaval Saturday during Mr Fadnavis’ Maha Janadesh Yatra.

However, when asked if Mr Khadse would be part of the next Cabinet, Mr Fadnavis said that the decision would be taken by the party’s central leadership.

The CM’s statement has led to the speculation that Mr Khadse, a senior OBC leader from northern Maharashtra, is likely to follow in the footsteps of BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani.

Mr Khadse has been sulking ever since he resigned from the Cabinet, following allegations of corruption against him.

There has also been a speculation that Mr Khadse could be sent to the “margdarshak mandal”, which include senior party leaders like Mr Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.

Meanwhile, Slamming the  Opposition, Mr Khadse quiped that going by the response garnered by the CM’s yatra, there are no prizes for guessing that BJP will easily return to power.

“When the BJP was in the Opposition, it undertook yatras that were negative. But the Maha Janadesh Yatra is positive,” Mr Khadse said.

Just last week, Mr Khadse expressed his desire to contest the upcoming Assembly elections.

“I will demand my candidature from the Muktainagar seat. If the party gives me candidature, I will contest the election,” he said.

The 66-year-old leader has been the face of the Muktainagar constituency in northern Maharashtra since 1990.