Ashok Chavan will join BJP today, a day after resigning from Congress

Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, who had resigned from the Congress a couple of days back, may join BJP today.

There is a turmoil in the Congress after Chavan's resignation. State in-charge Ramesh Chennithala has called a meeting of party leaders.

Amidst the talk of Chavan joining BJP, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters, “Let's see what happens next.” Independent MLA from Amravati Ravi Rana claimed that 10 to 15 MLAs are in touch with Ashok Chavan. Chavan said that the decision to leave Congress is his personal decision and he will announce his next step in a day or two. He said, “I have not yet taken any decision to join BJP.”

In a letter to state Congress president Nana Patole, Chavan said he was resigning from the primary membership of the party. He also submitted his resignation as MLA to Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar. Chavan, MLA from Bhokar seat, was also a member of the Congress Working Committee. He was also a former MP from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency.

Chavan told reporters that he was not going to discuss on a public platform anything happening in the Congress party.

Asked whether he would join the BJP, Chavan said, “I have not taken any decision yet on joining the BJP, don't know about the functioning of the BJP.” He also said that his decision to leave Congress is personal and he does not want to give any reason for it.

He said, “There are many people who love me and support me. They tried to contact me, but I could not respond. The decision I have taken today will not be changed. I don't know what other MLAs or Congress leaders will think or do. “I have not contacted any of them.” There were reports for the last few months that Chavan would leave the Congress, so the news of his resignation did not come as a complete surprise to the state party leaders. Asked when he decided to step down, Chavan said, “There is no need to tell everything”.

On Chavan resigning from the Congress, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said, “Voters will teach a lesson to those who abandoned them.” The senior Congress leader also said that he was unaware of the compulsion due to which Ashok Chavan left the Congress. He told reporters, “This is an unfortunate decision. Never thought that a person like him would take such a step.'' Chavan is a resident of Nanded district of Marathwada region. His father late Shankarrao Chavan was also the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Without naming Ashok Chavan, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "These traitors do not realize that his exit will open up massive new opportunities for the people whose development they have always blocked.".