A day after he resigned from the Congress party, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan is likely to join the BJP on Tuesday, according to reports.
Chavan had tendered his resignation to Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday, stating that he was resigning as a primary member and stepping down as an MLA by submitting his resignation to assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. However, he did not confirm reports about joining the BJP then. I haven't taken any decision yet on joining the BJP and don't know BJP's working system", Chavan told reporters.
However, ANI quoting his office, said Chavan may join the saffron brigade on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, another Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, a former Rajya Sabha MP, shot down rumours that he is leaving the Congress. He, however, said Chavan's exit was a loss to the state Congress. Stating that Chavan was upset with the working style of a Maharashtra leader, Nirupam said: "Some are calling him a liability, some are holding ED responsible, all this is a hasty reaction. He was basically very upset with the working style of a leader from Maharashtra," he posted on X.
Meanwhile, the Congress has called a meeting of party leaders in Mumbai post the exit of Chavan. Congress leader and LoP Maharashtra Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar told ANI that Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala has called a meeting of party leaders.
"This meeting is being held after the resignation of Ashok Chavan. There are changes in the party. I am with the Congress and will remain with the Congress. I won four assembly elections on the Congress symbol, became a minister and twice the Leader of the Opposition, now I do not expect much from the party and I am determined to remain in the Congress till the end," Wadettiwar added.
Uddhav attacks Chavan
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has raked up the Adarsh housing scam to target Chavan and said if the BJP sends him to the Rajya Sabha, it will amount to disrespecting martyred soldiers.
Addressing a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city on Monday, Thackeray said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier gone to Nanded (Chavan's home district) and spoken about corruption committed by Ashok Chavan. They had said Chavan disrespected families of the martyred soldiers. But if the prime minister sends him (Chavan) to Rajya Sabha, it will amount to disrespecting our soldiers," he said.
Chavan is an accused in the Adarsh housing society scam wherein a 31-storey posh building in south Mumbai was constructed allegedly on land owned by the Defence Ministry without getting the requisite permissions and clearances. Chavan is an accused under the Indian Penal Code provisions for criminal conspiracy and cheating and under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Some of Chavan's relatives had figured in the list of beneficiaries.
