Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan grabbed headlines as he officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party-BJP, a day after resigning from the Congress. The significant move took place at the Mumbai BJP office, where Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended a warm welcome to Chavan into the party fold.
Fadnavis revealed that during their conversation, Chavan expressed his desire to contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda without seeking any prominent position, citing his extensive experience in various leadership roles.
“I have joined the BJP with the wish to contribute to the development work of the Central Government led by Narendra Modi. It’s an unconditional move without asking for any post. It’s a new innings for me after serving in politics for a long 38 years,” Chavan stated, accentuating his commitment to serving the nation under the BJP banner.
Speculations are rife around Chavan’s probable nomination to the Rajya Sabha from the BJP, especially given the timing of his party switch ahead of the nomination deadline. His departure from the Congress adds to the party’s woes, as it continues to lose influential leaders to rival factions, including Milind Deora and Baba Siddique.
Reacting to Chavan’s exit, prominent Mumbai Muslim leader Baba Siddique described it as a “wake-up call” for the Congress, indicating dissatisfaction within the party ranks. Siddique, who had discussions with Chavan post resignation, hinted at further defections, asserting upon the need for the Congress to address internal issues.
In a sharp critique of his former party, Siddique likened his treatment within the Congress to being used “like curry leaves” for flavour, highlighting frustrations among members who feel marginalised or disregarded. Chavan’s move underscores the shifting political landscape in Maharashtra, with implications for both the Congress and its rival factions as they navigate the upcoming political challenges.
