Mumbai: After a close-door meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena’s Arjun Khotkar has kept his arrow in his quiver paving way for the candidacy of Raosaheb Danve, state president of BJP without opposition.
The deadlock on Sunday of the Jalna Lok Sabha constituency was finally resolved after an hour-long meeting held between the leaders. Khotkar has withdrawn his nomination from the race.
Earlier on Sunday, Fadnavis and Thackeray, along with Danve and Khotkar, held meeting at Aurangabad hotel to end the internal conflict between them that threatened to create a major rift between the two saffron parties in the Marathwada region. Later, both leaders shared the dais during a joint BJP-Sena rally in Aurangabad and vowed to let bygones be bygones.
“Yes, there was a conflict between Danve and myself, but it has now been resolved through the mediation of the Chief Minister and Thackeray. During our meeting, both explained the ‘coalition dharma’ to me and Danve. Since the first exam is mine, I give my word to both leaders that I will pass the test.
I hope that Danve clears his exam as well,” said Khotkar, further remarking that he was “a hard core Shiv Sainik” who “did not believe in misrepresentation and untruth”. Danve said, “While Khotkar and myself said things against each other for the past couple of years, the fight was not, in any way, personal in nature. I have laid down my weapons ever since the BJP and the Sena formed an alliance.”
In a lighter vein, Danve remarked, “With this cease-fire, I trust Arjun’s arrow will remain in his quiver and not be directed against me.” Danve is four times sitting Member of Parliament (MP) of the BJP from Jalna Lok Sabha constituency and Khotkar had challenged him to defeat in the polls, even if the alliance will be forged.
Khotkar had met Congress president Rahul Gandhi way back in December last year as a possible preparation to join the Congress and contest the LS polls as Congress candidate against Danve.