Khadse's decision to quit BJP was tough but unavoidable, says daughter

Former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's decision to leave the Bharatiya Janata Party was 'tough' for him, but also 'unavoidable', his daughter Rohini Khadse said on Thursday.

Eknath Khadse, who had been sulking ever since he had to resign from the Devendra Fadnavis-led ministry in 2016 over corruption allegations, on Wednesday quit the saffron party and is set to join the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party on Friday.

Talking to reporters in Nashik, Rohini Khadse said, "My father had given 40 years of his life for the BJP and its growth. It certainly was a tough decision for him and me, but I think it was an unavoidable one. We are joining a new party for sure."

"There is no turning back now...we will join the new party with vigour," she said.

In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly polls, the BJP had denied a ticket to Eknath Khadse and instead fielded Rohini from Muktainagar constituency in Jalgaon district.

When asked about it, she said, "I was extremely disappointed because my father was denied ticket by the BJP. There was no joy that I was fielded as he was denied ticket."

"There were some reasons behind him not getting the ticket, but I cannot say anything further on that issue," she said.

Rohini Khadse had lost the seat to Shiv Sena rebel Chandrakant Patil.

After quitting the BJP, Khadse, 68, had blamed Fadnavis for 'trying to destroy his life' and political career.

Khadse's daughter-in-law Raksha Khadse is a BJP Lok Sabha member from Raver seat in Maharashtra.