In a jolt to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its senior leader and former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse on Wednesday quit the saffron party, media reports said.
Khade is set to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as per the announcement by the ruling party leader and Maharashtra minister, Jayant Patil.
Khade had remained in the BJP for 35 years.
Patil told reporters that several BJP leaders may also resign and join the NCP.
Maharashtra is presently ruled by the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, which is run by the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.
