Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse filed his nomination papers on Tuesday as an independent from Muktainagar in Jalgaon district after his name was not found in the BJP‘s list of candidates for the Maharashtra polls.
Bhartiya Janta Party had released the list of 125 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra polls. Founding his name missing, Eknath Khadse expressed his dissatisfaction with the party and filed his nomination papers as an independent from the Muktainagar assembly.
The leader, speaking to the reporters said “I have been loyal to the BJP for the last 42 years. If it is a crime, then I have committed it. I have completed all the responsibilities given to me by my party. All I can say is that I bow before the changing times. I was waiting for the seat-sharing formula and to know whether my seat will to the Shiv Sena or not. Several offers were made to me, but I did not accept any of them.”
He further added, “I was expecting my name in the first list. When I found my name missing, I was agitated and disturbed. For four decades I have relentlessly worked for the organization. Since it was an auspicious day today, I filed my nomination papers. I am hopeful my name will be there in the second list.”
Along with Eknath Khadse, names of Education minister Vinod Tawde and Energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule were also absent from the first list of the BJP. It has been reported that the names of 12 sitting MLAs have been dropped off the first list.
Eknath Khadse was once considered to be close to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He is an OBC leader and had served as the revenue minister. He was also the Finance Minister of Maharashtra from 2014 to 2015. He resigned as a revenue minister in 2016 after the allegations of misuse of his office.