BJP will be happy if NCP MP Udayanraje joins party: Fadnavis

In remarks that could raise hackles of the NCP ahead of the assembly elections, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday virtually extended an invitation to the party's Satara MP and Maratha royal Udayanraje Bhosale to join the ruling BJP.

Speaking to reporters after he arrived in the north Maharashtra town as part of his 'Mahajanadesh Yatra', the chief minister termed sulking former minister Eknath Khadse as a "senior leader", who had been removed from the Cabinet over land-grab allegations and never re-inducted.

Fadnavis's statement on Bhosale comes a day after the latter lavished praise on the CM for carrying out development works in Satara.

The MP had also accused the previous Congress-NCP government of creating "obstacles" in the progress of his constituency.

The Congress-NCP combine ruled Maharashtra for 15 years between 1999 and 2014. Fadnavis became the chief minister in October 2014.

Latching onto Bhosale's comment, Fadnavis said what the MP had said was "true" as his government had approved several schemes, including that of the national highway and irrigation for the region.

"I am thankful to him (Bhosale) and what he said is true. He has been with the NCP-Congress for several years. What our government has done for Satara and Western Maharashtra region, the Congress-NCP did not do," the chief minister told reporters here.

He said Bhosale had acknowledged his government's development works in the region in the past as well.

Asked about the likelihood of Bhosale joining the BJP, Fadnavis said, "He will have to take a decision on joining the BJP. But we will be happy if he comes to us."
When asked about the reports of BJP leaders being in touch with him, Bhosale had said, "I have friends in all the parties. I have personal rapport with them, but that doesn't mean...let's see, I will have to take decision based on what is in the interest of the people at a given time."