Ashok Chavan will join BJP and file nomination for Rajya Sabha polls on February 14

A day after quitting the Indian National Congress, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday.

Mumbai: Former Congress leader Ashok Chavan addresses the media outside his residence at Churchgate in Mumbai, Monday, February 12, 2024. (PTI Photo)

Mumbai: A day after quitting the Indian National Congress, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed him to the party. Chavan will file his Rajya Sabha nomination on February 14. During Chavan's accession ceremony, Fadnavis said the former Congress leader “wanted to work for Vikas”.

Chavan's decision to join the BJP comes as a major change in his political career and marks a 'new beginning' for him. Chavan expressed his commitment to work for the constructive development of Maharashtra under the banner of the BJP. In a statement, he said: “Today I formally join the BJP in their office. I am hopeful that we will work together to bring about positive changes in Maharashtra.”

Chavan was accompanied by Fadnavis, party leader Ashish Shelar, and Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

VIDEO | Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis welcomes former CM and ex-Congress leader Ashok Chavan to BJP.

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/mfhoAH5L4I

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2024

Ahead of his decision to join the BJP, Chavan resigned as the chief member of the Congress party on Monday.

Ashok Chavan political career

Ashok Chavan served as vice-president and general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995.
He served the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms starting in 1999 and ending in May 2014.
He served as Chief Minister of the State of Maharashtra from December 8, 2008 to November 9, 2010. On November 9, 2010, the Congress party asked him to resign over corruption allegations related to the Adarsh Housing Society scam.
In the 2014 general elections, Chavan was elected from Nanded constituency but lost the seat to BJP's Pratap Patil Chikhalikar in 2019.
He is the third big name to leave the Congress ship in Maharashtra. The first to leave was former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique.
Chavan, who represents Bhokar, Nanded, as an MLA, is said to have serious differences with state party chief Nana Patole.