I am being projected as villain, Fadnavis reacts over Khadse’s decision to quit BJP

Aurangabad, Oct 21: Reacting over senior leader Eknath Khadse’s move of quitting BJP, former chief minister of the state and leader of opposition in legislative assembly Devendra Fadnavis accused the veteran leader of telling half truth and said that the Khadse is projecting him (Fadnavis) as a villain to keep the remaining half truth under wraps.

Fadnavis was talking to media persons after touring the rain-hit villages of Marathwada, in Aurangabad on Wednesday. He termed Khadse’s move as an unfortunate one and said that it would have been better had he not quit the party.

Khadse, in an open attack on Fadnavis, had said that he quit BJP because of Fadnavis and squarely blamed the former CM for his travails in the party. Giving cautious reaction over Khadse’s statement, Fadnavis said that he should have complained to higher authorities of BJP against him. As of today, he (Fadnavis) is not holding any post, so won’t speak much more about it, but will speak elaborately at proper time, Fadnavis added.

When asked how far Khadse’s move will damage BJP, Fadnavis said that it will damage BJP to a small extent. BJP is a large party and quitting and joining party by some leaders won’t hit it considerably. Jalgaon has been a bastion of BJP and the people of the town will continue standing by BJP. Not a single MLA will go with Khadse, he added.

Former minister Pankaja Munde was sitting next to Fadnavis in the press conference. She had an offer to join Shiv Sena from former minister Arjun Khotkar. She smiled when this point was raised and Fadnavis quickly retorted saying that Khotkar’s position in his own party is bad and nobody is taking cognizance of him in Sena. Finally, Fadnavis described Khotkar as a good friend and concluded the press conference.

Union minister Raosaheb Danve, MLAs Haribhau Bagade, Atul Save, Prashant Bamb, BJP local office-bearers Vijay Autade and Sanjay Kenekar were present in the conference. Fadnavis left for Bihar where he is in-charge of BJP in the ongoing electoral campaign for the general Assembly election.