Jalgaon, Jun 1 : BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis Today visited Jalgaon and met former party member Eknath Khadse’s daughter-in-law and MP Raksha Khadse.

His tour comes on the heels of several BJP Corporators defecting to the ruling Shiv Sena. A total of 39 members have recently deserted the saffron party.

Of the 39 corporators who have defected, 10 are Muktainagar panchayat members while the remaining 29 are corporators in the Jalgaon civic body. Owing to the flurry of defection, the BJP was reduced to a minority and hence had to relinquish power in the civic body.

Fadnavis’s visit also assumes importance as he came to Muktainagar-Eknath’s constituency-after the latter left the BJP for the NCP amid reports of tiff between the two.

Accompanied by Girish Mahajan, MP Umesh Patil and MLA Sanjay Saavkare, Mr Fadnavis’ met with Ms Raksha and the meeting lasted for 20 minutes.

Later, he left to visit a subdistrict hospital ravaged by recent rains. There, he interacted with the patients as well as the doctors.

On Monday, Maharashtra Assembly Leader of Opposition Fadnavis also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

The meeting was in connection with the lingering Maratha quota issue which has been dominating the state politics for a while now.

The surprise rendezvous kicked off political speculations, however both the sides termed it as a courtesy call.

Mr Fadnavis said that he called upon the veteran politician as the latter recently underwent a gall bladder surgery.(UNI)