In a huge jolt to the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior leader Eknath Khadse has quit the party to join the ruling Nationalist Congress Party, a top leader said here on Wednesday.
"He has quit the BJP after serving the party for over 35 years... He will join the NCP on Friday afternoon," NCP State President and Minister Jayant Patil told mediapersons.
Besides, several other BJP leaders, including many activists at various levels, are likely to follow suit and shall be followed by other elected legislators later, said Patil.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who was visiting the flood-hit areas in Osmanabad, reacted in a few words to the news of Khadse's entry into the NCP. 'That's a good thing. I am happy if Khadse is coming to the family of Mahavikas Aghadi', said the Chief Minister.
Khadse is likely to be given the post of Agriculture Minister by the NCP.
Maharashtra saw a political upheaval in November 2019 when BJP's ally Shiv Sena supported the Congress-NCP. The BJP lost its oldest ally Shiv Sena who walked out of the Modi government at the Centre.