Is NDA ally Swabhimani Paksha heading for a split?

Mumbai city news: A day after Shetti announced an inquiry committee to investigate Khot’s alleged indiscipline against the party, Khot said on Thursday that Shetti decided to remove him from the party.

Swabhimani Paksha, an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is headed by farmer leader Raju Shetti could be heading for a split as the party’s representative in the government and minister of state for agriculture, Sadabhau Khot, may be on his way out.

Swabhimani Paksha, an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is headed by farmer leader Raju Shetti(HT file photo)

A day after Shetti announced an inquiry committee to investigate Khot’s alleged indiscipline against the party, Khot said on Thursday that Shetti decided to remove him from the party.

The minister also criticised Shetti for initiating action against him. He alleged that the farmer leader did not like to see other leaders becoming more popular than him. It is not yet clear whether Khot will join the BJP or start a new outfit.

On Wednesday, the Swabhimani Paksha during its executive committee meeting decided to form an inquiry committee into Khot’s alleged indiscipline. Khot had skipped the party’s Mumbai-Pune march last month to demand loan waivers for farmers.

Moreover, Khot had also campaigned for BJP candidates during Panvel civic polls, ignoring the fact his party was contesting in alliance with the Shiv Sena. The Sena and the BJP had contested the elections separately. This led to speculation that Khot would quit Swabhimani Paksha and soon join the BJP.

“He (Raju Shetti) has already decided to remove me from the party as he doesn’t like anyone in the party becoming bigger than him. He wants to create an impression that he is the only representatives of farmers in the state,” said Khot. The minister added, “Formation of the investigative committee is just a sham to show that he is a democratic person and whatever action was taken against me was on the recommendations of the committee.”

“I am not happy with whatever has been going on between me and the party as I have dedicated 30 years to it and that too in his (Shetti’s) leadership. But unfortunately, he could not bear me for more than six months,” Khot said. He added that he was yet to decide what to do next if he was removed from the Paksha.