In yet another major jolt to Congress and the INDIA bloc, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior leader resigned from the party with immediate effect on Monday, February 12. He is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
In a one-line resignation, Chavan stated that as of February 12, he relinquished his primary membership from the Indian National Congress (INC). The letter was addressed to Nana Patole, president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
The 65-year-old Congress heavyweight, who represents Bhokar Assembly constituency, met Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar and tendered his resignation as an MLA.
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This development comes days after senior Maharashtra Congress leaders Baba Siddique and Milind Deora quit the grand-old party leaving the state leadership of Congress bleeding.
Amid speculations about Chavan’s resignation, BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked to “wait and watch what will happen next”.
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“I heard about Ashok Chavan from the media. But the only thing I can say now is that several good leaders from Congress are in touch with the BJP. Those leaders who are connected with the masses are feeling suffocated in Congress. I am confident that some big faces will join Congress. Aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya (wait and watch what will happen in the days to come),” he said, India Today reported.
Ashok Chavan, is the son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan, and wields significant influence in the Nanded region. His switch is likely to hurt the Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.