12 July,2026 01:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse (File pic)
Lighting the fire amid the fuelling of the Maharashtra political spectrum, NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse has acknowledged that he had travelled to Delhi. The NCP (SP) leader, however, asserted that he was no longer interested in rejoining the BJP and would remain with Sharad Pawar till the end.
Khadse, a former BJP leader, is currently a member of the legislative council (MLC) from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP). Recently, it was reported that BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde had called on former state minister Khadse at his residence, fueling speculation about the veteran leader's return to the saffron party, as per PTI.
During the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, reports of Khadse's possible return to the BJP had gained traction after photographs of his meetings with senior party leaders in New Delhi surfaced. However, the move did not materialise.
Khadse on Saturday highlighted, "Yes, I have gone to Delhi. Amit Shah had called me and asked me to join the BJP. But senior BJP leaders told me that if I was inducted into the party, local leaders would not work. They even said they would ensure the party would lose the Lok Sabha seat if I was taken back," as per PTI.
He also asked, "The seniors then told me to continue working for them in the Lok Sabha elections and that they would see later. So who exactly is opposing my entry?"
Khadse did not specify which seat he was referring to. His daughter-in-law, Raksha Khadse, is a BJP MP from Raver Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district and is currently a Union minister.
Clarifying speculation triggered by his recent meeting with Tawde in Mumbai, Eknath Khadse said it was only a courtesy call.
NCP (SP) leader said, "He enquired about my health, and there was no political discussion. I invited him to my birthday function. I have also invited Nitin Gadkari, and he has told me he will attend," as per PTI.
"I want to make it clear that I have no interest in joining the BJP now. I am with Sharad Pawar and will remain with him till the end. My workers may be interested in joining the BJP, but I am not," he asserted.
Meanwhile, state minister Girish Mahajan dismissed reports claiming that he stalled Eknath Khadse's return to the BJP.
Mahajan said, "How can I stop Khadse's entry? He has a direct hotline to Delhi. I am a small man and do not even have a hotline to Mumbai. If he has received a green signal from the top leadership, that is fine. I am not an astrologer, nor am I Sanjay Raut," as per PTI.
Mahajan also said he had no information about Eknath Khadse's possible induction into the BJP and remarked that state minister Gulabrao Patil (who is a legislator from Khadse's native place, Jalgaon) would be better placed to comment on the matter.
(With inputs from PTI)
