Big Blow for Congress, Ex CM of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan Quits Party

MUMBAI: Ahead of Lok Sabha election, Congress party in Maharashtra suffered a big blow as the former Chief Minister and ex-MP Ashok Chavan’s resigned to the party. It is a significant setback for the party.

Amid reports of his talks with the BJP, Chavan handed in his resignation, possibly paving the way for a Rajya Sabha ticket with the BJP. This move follows Congress leader Milind Deora’s recent departure to join Shiv Sena.

Chavan’s differences with state party chief Nana Patole regarding candidate selection are cited as a key factor in his decision to switch sides. The son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan, Ashok Chavan’s influence in the Nanded region makes this move detrimental to the Congress in upcoming polls.

Facing a substantial challenge, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, is impacted by this political shift. Chavan’s political journey, marked by key roles in the Congress and a stint as Chief Minister, was marred by corruption allegations leading to his resignation in the aftermath of the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

In response, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alluded to the BJP’s tactics with a “washing machine” jab, a term used to accuse the BJP of stalling investigations against opposition leaders who switch sides.