Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, emphasizing his commitment to the constructive development of Maharashtra. Describing this move as a fresh start in his political journey, Chavan expressed optimism about collaborating with the BJP for the progress of the state.
Chavan officially declared his entry into the BJP during a gathering at their office, where he was anticipated to join in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, party leader Ashish Shelar, and Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule. When queried about the likelihood of other MLAs and Congress legislators following suit, Chavan chose not to comment, stating a lack of awareness regarding their decisions.
Sources indicate that Ashok Chavan is poised to become the BJP’s Rajya Sabha candidate from the Nanded constituency in Maharashtra, presenting a challenging situation for the Congress party. The former Chief Minister tendered his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress on Monday, submitting it to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole.
Chavan, who played pivotal roles in the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995, served three terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, spanning from 1999 to May 2014. His tenure as Chief Minister from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010, concluded amid corruption allegations related to the Adarsh Housing Society scam.
In the 2014 general elections, Chavan secured victory from the Nanded constituency but lost the seat to Pratap Patil Chikhalikar of the BJP in 2019. His departure marks the third significant figure to exit the Congress in Maharashtra, following the departures of former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora and former MLA Baba Siddique. Chavan, representing Bhokar, Nanded, reportedly faced discord with state party chief Nana Patole.