Khadse not keen to return to Maharashtra cabinet

Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who resigned from the Maharashtra cabinet two years back following corruption allegations, has said that he is not too keen to be a part of the party-led government again.

The leader also said he has no plans to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the saffron outfit is his "family" and that it supported him in his difficult times.

Khadse, the MLA from Muktainagar seat in Jalgaon district of North Maharashtra, had resigned in June 2016 after he was accused of using his post as the revenue minister to facilitate a land deal in favour of his wife and son-in-law.

He has since then consistently denied any wrongdoing.

With the Maharashtra Assembly elections due just over a year from now, the 65-year-old veteran BJP leader doesn't seem to be much interested in being part of the government.

"There is just over a year left for (state) elections now. Before that also there will be lots of local polls. The election code of conduct will barely allow the government to do much work now," he said.

"Hence, I am not too interested in returning to the state cabinet for now," Khadse, who was earlier considered No. 2 in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in the state, told PTI in an interview.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had earlier this month submitted its report to a Pune court in connection with the case of alleged irregularities in the purchase of the MIDC land near Pune, involving Khadse.

The leader had then expressed confidence that he would come out clean in the case.

In the backdrop of media reports that the court did not find anything concrete against him, Khadse, who recently underwent a knee replacement surgery and is now recuperating, said, "I am happy that the truth has prevailed."