Mumbai: Former chief minister Ashok Chavan’s surprising exit from the Congress party has left a void in the Marathwada region. Chavan, a five-term MLA and elected from Bhokar assembly constituency in Nanded district in 2019, has resigned from the legislative assembly, the Congress Working Committee, and the primary membership of the party.
Chavan’s decision to quit came as a shock to the Marathwad Congress unit, but senior party leaders had an inkling that this move was on the horizon. In his resignation statement, Chavan stated, I personally called on assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar and submitted my resignation. My resignation from the primary membership of the party has been given to MPCC president Nana Patole. I have also resigned from the CWC. In the Congress party, all along I worked very honestly, I have no complaint or grudge against anyone.
When asked about the reasons behind his resignation, Chavan replied that not every decision needs a specific reason. However, he expressed his intention to explore other options and mentioned that he has had a series of meetings with BJP leadership in New Delhi regarding his political future.
Although Chavan did not confirm any details, reports suggest that he is negotiating with the BJP for either a nomination in the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for February 27 or a potential Lok Sabha seat from his hometown Nanded. His move follows the footsteps of other Congress leaders like Milind Deora and Baba Siddique, who joined Shiv Sena and NCP, respectively.
Ashok Chavan has played a significant role in the Congress party, holding key positions including MPCC president. However, he had to step down as Chief Minister in 2010 due to his involvement in the Adarsh land scam, which alleged that his relatives were beneficiaries of the scheme. Chavan has a long-standing association with the Congress, having been elected to the Lok Sabha twice before, in 1987 and 2014. In the 2019 legislative assembly polls, he lost to BJP’s Pratap Chikhalikar but managed to secure a seat in the assembly.
Known as a loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Chavan’s political journey has been eventful. He was first appointed as a member of the legislative council in 1992 and was later elected to the legislative assembly in 1999. As a cabinet member in the state government, he held various crucial portfolios. In the Maha Vikas Aghadi government from 2019 to 2022, he served as the public works minister under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray.
Ashok Chavan’s recent resignation marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Maharashtra, particularly in the Marathwada region. As negotiations unfold, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for the former chief minister and how his decision will impact the dynamics of the upcoming elections.
