Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is expected to join the BJP today in Mumbai, a day after resigning from the Congress, dealing a major blow to the party in the state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, which the Congress will fight as part of the INDIA bloc alongside the Uddhav Sena and Sharad Pawar’s NCP. On Monday, Chavan did not explain his future plans and stated that he was not in negotiations with any political party, but promised to declare his next step within 48 hours. Speculation was prevalent that he might join the BJP, but Chavan rejected a particular BJP link on Monday, saying he had not made a decision.
While the Maharashtra Congress has seen big-ticket withdrawals, this is the first that would directly benefit the BJP, since Milind Deora and Baba Siddique selected BJP allies in Maharashtra — Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP — rather than the BJP itself.
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Following Ashok Chavan’s departure, it was anticipated that he may receive a Rajya Sabha seat from the BJP. Uddhav Thackeray claimed that sending Chavan to the Rajya Sabha will be insulting to dead troops. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had already visited Nanded (Chavan’s hometown) and spoken about the corruption perpetrated by Ashok Chavan. They said Chavan insulted the families of the martyred troops.But if the prime minister appoints Chavan to the Rajya Sabha, he will be demeaning our warriors,” Uddhav remarked.
“I have resigned from the Assembly as an MLA. I’ve submitted my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from both the Congress Working Committee and the Congress Primary Membership. I haven’t chosen to join a party. “I will clarify my position on joining a party in two days,” Chavan told reporters after resigning from Congress.
Ashok Chavan’s resignation surprised the Congress, and more MLAs are now expected to follow suit. Ramesh Chenniyhala, the Maharashtra Congress’s in-charge, has summoned a major gathering of party leaders in Mumbai. According to Congress politician Sanjay Nirupam, Ashok Chavan was unhappy with one of the party’s leaders’ working style. The Congress leader in question is Nana Patole.
