Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the party’s office in Mumbai on Tuesday. He joined the party in the presence of BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other senior BJP leaders.
According to reports, Chavan is expected to contest the Rajya Sabha elections as BJP candidate and he will be filing nomination papers tomorrow. “Today is the beginning of my new political career," Chavan said earlier today.
Chavan had tendered his resignation to Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday, stating that he was resigning as a primary member and stepping down as an MLA by submitting his resignation to assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. However, he did not confirm reports about joining the BJP then. “I haven't taken any decision yet on joining the BJP and don't know BJP's working system", Chavan told reporters on Monday.
Ashok Chavan, son of former CM S.B. Chavan, on Monday, underscored that his choice to depart from the Congress was independent and refrained from attributing specific reasons for his exit. His exit from the Congress came days after senior Maharashtra Congress leaders Baba Siddique and Milind Deora quit the party.
Ashok Chavan hails from Nanded district in Marathwada region. He was also the state Congress chief during 2014-19. He represented Bhokar assembly seat and is also the former MP from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency.
- with PTI inputs.