Mumbai, July 12 (HS): Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Eknath Khadse on Sunday acknowledged that he had recently travelled to New Delhi but dismissed speculation about rejoining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that he would remain with Sharad Pawar till the end.

Khadse, a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) and a former BJP leader, said he had no plans to return to the saffron party despite reports linking him to a possible political comeback.

Speculation about Khadse's future gained momentum after reports suggested that BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde had recently met the former state minister at his residence, fuelling talk of his possible return to the BJP.

Similar speculation had also surfaced during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign after photographs of Khadse's meetings with senior BJP leaders in New Delhi became public. However, no such move materialised.

Reiterating his political stand, Khadse said he would continue to remain with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar