Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday joined the BJP, a day after he parted ways with the Congress.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed him to the party. “Chavan told me that he wanted to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s work of development for the people. He said he did not want any plum post,” he said.
Talking to the waiting media, Chavan (65) said, “I have joined the BJP with the wish to contribute to the development work of the central government led by Narendra Modi. It is an unconditional move without asking for any post. It is a new innings for me after serving in politics for 38 years.”
“It was my personal decision to join the saffron party. I believe a new beginning has to be made. I see a future in the party,” he added.
He, however, maintained that he has not contacted any Congress worker or his supporters to join him during his induction into the BJP.
Asked about the Congress’ prospects, he said, “No comments.”
Chavan is the third big exit from the Maharashtra Congress after former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora and MLA Baba Siddique left the party.
The leader belongs to an influential political family based in Nanded district of Maharashtra. He is the son of former chief minister Shankarrao Chavan. He represented the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency in 1987 and 2014, but lost the election in 2019 when he was defeated by BJP’s Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar.
Chavan won the Mudkhed Assembly constituency in 1999 and 2004 and Bhokar in 2009 and 2019.
According to sources, the newly-inducted leader is likely to get a Rajya Sabha ticket and may file his nomination on Wednesday.
The former chief minister’s resignation from the Congress also comes ahead of the elections to six Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The last date of filing of nomination is February 15. The elections are scheduled to take place on February 27.