While Eknath Khadse has been scalped by the BJP leadership giving him the rather dubious distinction of being the first minister to resign under a cloud of suspicion, BJP insiders claim that the episode has exposed the larger rumblings within the party.

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While Khadse's followers claim that the expose of their leader was an "inside job", BJP leaders say such widening fault-lines in the party may hamper their unprecedented victory in Maharashtra.

Senior BJP leaders admit to unrest among legislators from strongholds like western Vidarbha over the region getting poor representation in the state cabinet — something that the leadership and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis may address in the impending expansion of the state cabinet. Nominations of recent imports to the party like R N Singh and Praveen Darekar over old-time party workers have led to BJP office-bearers openly voicing their protest.

The impact of corruption charges and Khadse's resignation on the urban electorate in the polls to civic bodies, including Mumbai, due next year notwithstanding, sources admit it may not be easy to sideline the leader from the OBC Leva Patil community.

Khadse enjoys support in the North Maharashtra region with his family controlling several levers of power. For instance, his daughter-in-law Raksha is a BJP MP from Jalgaon, while wife Mandakini is the chief of the powerful apex milk co-operative Mahananda.

"Khadse saheb's supporters claim their leader is being targeted as he is a Bahujan (non-Brahmin). This caste rift may prove to be politically costly for the party," admitted a BJP minister.

It may be noted that after Fadnavis was appointed as the chief minister, Khadse had made his chief ministerial ambitions apparent while stressing that the people wanted a Bahujan chief minister. The BJP's critics claim it is a largely upper-caste dominated party.

BJP leaders said there was speculation on whether Khadse could emerge as a rallying point for disgruntled elements, which, however, remains in doubt considering the probe into the allegations made against him.

"The party leadership may have made its moves after examining how many MLAs and elected representatives are with Khadse," said a senior BJP leader.

"Though not many MLAs may choose to throw in their lot with Khadse, there are many disgruntled party leaders who feel they have been denied their due. However, it must be noted that Fadnavis is being backed to the hilt by the high command," the leader said, adding that a lot hinged on Khadse's moves.