Khadse says Tawde's meeting with him was courtesy call, dismisses political speculation

Mumbai, Jul 9 (PTI) Senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde's recent meeting with NCP (SP) MLC Eknath Khadse here has triggered speculation in political circles, but the latter described it as a courtesy visit and dismissed suggestions of any political significance. "Vinod Tawde visited to the Mumbai residence of Union minister Raksha Khadse, where the meeting took place. It was not a political meeting. He merely came to enquire about my health and it was only a goodwill visit," Khadse said on Wednesday, rejecting speculation surrounding the meeting. The clarification came amid heightened political buzz following reports of recent interactions between senior leaders of the BJP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). Raksha Khadse is the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports. She is the daughter-in-law of Eknath Khadse. Political speculation has also been fuelled by reports that Tawde and former state NCP (SP) chief Jayant Patil recently held a meeting in Mumbai. Patil confirmed the meeting, but maintained that the discussions were informal. According to reports citing sources, the meeting between Tawde and Patil took place against the backdrop of speculation over the Sharad Pawar-led NCP's possible political alignment with the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. However, there has been no official confirmation from either side regarding any such development. Khadse, who spent nearly four decades in the BJP, quit the party in October 2020 after publicly attributing his exit to differences with senior BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and minister Girish Mahajan. He subsequently joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which was undivided at that time, and was later elected to the legislative council. During the Fadnavis-led government from 2014-19, Khadse had to step down from his position as Revenue Minister in 2016 following allegations of corruption and an illicit land deal. In June 2023, Tawde had publicly appealed to Khadse to return to the BJP, saying the party needed an experienced leader like him. At that time, Tawde had also remarked that while Khadse's outspoken style might not always be acceptable within the party, he remained among the leaders whom the BJP would like to see in its fold again. Tawde is a Rajya Sabha member and general secretary of the ruling BJP. PTI ND NP