Sacked Khot’s Cabinet berth intact
The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), led by Raju Shetti, a member of Parliament has sacked Sadabhau Khot from the party after the news of rape charges on him were reported. However, this sacking seems his Cabinet berth may remain safe. According to Khot, the minister of state for agriculture, there is no need to take any decision (about formation of new party or being with Bharatiya Janata Party) immediately.
\The disciplinary action committee of SSS on Monday announced sacking of Khot from the party. The party is expecting Khot to resign from the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet as Khot was inducted into state cabinet as representative of SSS.
Khot, who was in Islampur, his home town in Sangli district said that he is in no hurry to take any decision right now. “The decision was expected. The party has taken a decision to sack me from the party long ago. Appointment of disciplinary action committee, sending me show cause notice and expectation of reply from me were just show off,” Khot claimed.
There are reports that Khot may form new party for farmers once he will be sacked by the party leaders. Reacting over these reports, Khot said, “I have been elected to Member of State Legislative Council (MLC) by the elected members of assembly (MLAs) as candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party. So the fate of my ministerial post is in hands of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.”
Khot further said, “I will discuss with my close confidante in the party and then will decide what to do in future.”
According to official from parliamentary affairs department, as Khot is member of BJP, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana could not claim and force CM Fadnavis to remove him from the state cabinet. Apart from Khot, Vinayak Mete, chief of Shiv Sangram party is also elected as BJP member in Upper House.