BJP leader Eknath Khadse (L) with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (R).
The Shiv Sena has alleged that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had "secretly" worked to oust his former cabinet colleague and senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who resigned after a string of allegations, including irregularities in a land deal.
"Eknath Khadse might have thought that Devendra Fadnavis, a yesterday's lad, would not understand politics. He thought he was the government. But he failed to know that this yesterday's lad was packing the (fire)cracker with gunpowder," the Shiv Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
It alleged that the Anti Corruption Bureau was behind Eknath Khadse's Personal Assistant Gajanan Patil for the last six months, but Mr Khadse had no clue about it. "By this, we understand the secrecy in the working style of Devendra Fadnavis," it stated.
The Shiv Sena has questioned why Mr Fadnavis did not once come forward to defend his colleague.
"Eknath Khadse is saying there is no proof against him and he will leave politics if he is proved guilty. Even Chhagan Bhujbal is saying the same thing in jail, Ashok Chavan, accused of Adarsh scam, too is saying the same thing. Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra is also saying he is innocent of the allegations levelled against him," it said.
Mr Khadse resigned on Saturday in the wake of a series of allegations including irregularities in a land deal in Pune, getting calls allegedly from fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim's residence in Karachi on his phone besides the alleged bribe sought by his personal aide.
Following this, Mr Fadnavis announced an inquiry by a retired high court judge into the allegations against Mr Khadse, as sought by the senior leader himself.