National: Former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse on Monday (September 2) expressed disappointment over being made to wait to formally join the BJP. The veteran leader from North Maharashtra said that a few months ago BJP president JP Nadda had welcomed him into the party but no formal announcement has been made yet.

According to a PTI report, while talking to the media in Jalgaon, Khadse, without naming Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said, "But due to opposition from some people, a formal public announcement could not be made. I feel that in such a situation, it is not right to remain in the BJP."

He said, "I will wait for a few more days and then take a decision. I am still a member of Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and am also its MLA. I had resigned from that party but Sharad Pawar did not accept my resignation and asked me to continue working as an MLA."

Let us tell you that Eknath Khadse left the BJP in October 2020 and joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) due to differences with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and his close aide Girish Mahajan from North Maharashtra. After joining the Pawar-led party in 2020, Khadse accused Fadnavis of "trying to destroy his life and political career".

Khadse belongs to the OBC Leva-Patil community. He comes from Muktainagar in Jalgaon district and has influence in the North Maharashtra-Khandesh region. Khadse won the Muktainagar assembly seat six times in 1990, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014.

His daughter-in-law Raksha Khadse won the 2014, 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha election from Raver and is now a Union Minister of State. At the same time, his daughter Rohini Khadse is the head of the state women's wing of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).