With his position becoming untenable, the second most important man in the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet resigns; CM says a retired HC judge will probe the allegations
Eknath Khadse at a press conference at the BJP head office at Nariman Point on Saturday.
Unable to defend corruption charges against its tainted Maharashtra minister, Eknath Khadse, the BJP asked the senior leader to quit early on Saturday.
Eknath Khadse at a press conference at the BJP head office at Nariman Point on Saturday. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Putting on a brave face in adversity, Khadse tried to make it a show of safeguarding morality. He said he tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, keeping in line with the party's tradition of holding high its moral grounds. But, maintained that he was bound to return to the state cabinet as all inquiries would prove his innocence.
Backed by senior cabinet colleagues, Khadse said he has asked Fadnavis to investigate allegations as well as probe activists and political leaders who have not produced any sound proof to nail him.
Fadnavis accepted the resignation and forwarded it to the governor. He said a retired High Court judge will be appointed to conduct an inquiry into the allegations against Khadse.
'Quit on moral grounds'
Khadse blamed the media. "In my political career spanning 40 years, I have faced a media trial for the first time. No person or media house has given any sound proof of my involvement in the so-called scams," Khadse said at a press conference after telling the CM that he was quitting.
He denied a case of quid pro quo in a land deal that he is alleged to have helped his family strike. "I have been working for the party's expansion right from the era of Emergency. I have always ensured my party's interests," he said.
Khadse invoked party seniors LK Advani and Nitin Gadkari, saying they, too, had stayed away from their respective offices after facing allegations. He also thanked the BJP for supporting him.
State BJP president Raosaheb Danve, who gave a clean chit to Khadse on Friday, said the allegations against his party colleague were baseless and he would come out clean.
Senior BJP ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde and Prakash Mehta accompanied Khadse to the press conference, and also conferred with the CM and Danve at the CM's official residence, Varsha, where Khadse put in his papers.
Narayan Rane, Congress leader
The BJP is targeting leaders of other backward classes. Khadse and Fadnavis are not on good terms, and I think OBC leader Khadse's resignation is a fallout of this
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP
Why has (State BJP president Raosaheb) Danve been giving Khadse a clean chit? Now, the people should know why Khadse quit if he was not guilty
Anjali Damania, Civil rights activist
Why only Khadse? All the people, including Khadse's family, should be probed for involvement in the alleged scams. I have all supporting documents with me
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