Eknath Khadse bags spacious Ramtek bunglow at Malabar Hill

Senior BJP leader and state revenue minister Eknath Khadse who missed the chief minister's post narrowly has succeeded in bagging the spacious sea-facing bungalow Ramtek at Malabar Hill.

The 8,857-sqm sprawling house has always been the most sought-after accommodation after Varsha, the chief minister's official residence. There were many senior BJP ministers including, finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, education minister Vinod Tawade and rural development minister Pankaja Munde, vying for Ramtek.

Sources in BJP told dna that Khadse being the senior-most leader and a minister, CM Devendra Fadnavis decided to allot the spacious pad to him. In fact, Ramtek is bigger than Varsha.

Ramtek has been home to several top politicians from Maharashtra, including NCP president Sharad Pawar. It was occupied by late Gopinath Munde when he was the deputy chief minister in the Sena-BJP government between 1995 and 1999. Later, Chhagan Bhujbal, his successor in the Congress-NCP government, stayed in the bungalow.

Pankaja Munde had sought the house, saying she has fond memories of growing up there during his father's stint with the state government. She now has to settle with the Royal Stone bungalow, which is smaller than Ramtek.