Here, take a seat: Khotkar ends Jalna feud with Danve

Khotkar, who vowed to contest against Danve from Jalna, withdrew his demand after Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to them in Aurangabad.

Shiv Sena minister Arjun Khotkar and state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Raosaheb Danve ended their feud over a Lok Sabha seat for “alliance dharma”, the two leaders announced in Aurangabad on Sunday.

Shiv Sena minister Arjun Khotkar and state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Raosaheb Danve ended their feud over a Lok Sabha seat for “alliance dharma”, the two leaders announced in Aurangabad on Sunday. (Photo by Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times)(Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Khotkar, who vowed to contest against Danve from Jalna, withdrew his demand after Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to them in Aurangabad.

The enmity between Khotkar and Danve was a major sticking point in the Sena-BJP alliance. It could have affected equations between the two parties in central Maharashtra, which will any way see a fierce electoral battle between the saffron combine and Opposition coalition.

“There was an emergency in our district for some time now. But today, it was lifted with the help of Uddhavji and the CM. Both of us were made to understand the dharma of alliance. I have understood the principle. I am a hardcore Sena party worker and will not indulge in backstabbing. Whatever responsibilities will be bestowed upon me, I will complete them,” Khotkar said at the gathering of party functionaries.

Danve said, “There was no personal conflict. We were working for our parties. The day the alliance was announced, I surrendered my weapons. Arjun, too, has lowered his bow and arrow.”

Thackeray, meanwhile, said the ending of the feud between the two leaders was symbolic for the parties.

“There were issues between us, but that is in the past now. There cannot be any squabbling between us. The Khotkar-Danve solution is symbolic . Whoever had issues must forget them now. Enough. There is no need to revisit them. We have to improve the life of the people now,” Thackeray told BJP and Sena workers.

Fadnavis said, “Circumstances led to our falling out, but we were always aligned with Hindutva. We are pro-Hindutva parties, but our Hindutva is not narrow and for one religion. Party workers should not look at who the candidate is, they must only work for the alliance. I am certain that all eight Lok Sabha seats in Marathwada will be bagged by our alliance.”