Ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joins BJP, day after quitting Congress

mangaloretoday.com

Mumbai, Feb 13, 2024: Ashok Chavan, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, joined the BJP on Tuesday, a day after he quit the Congress party. Talking to the media after joining the BJP, Chavan said, "I was sincere with Congress when I was with them, now, I will ensure the BJP will be victorious in my belt, be it the Lok Sabha, or state elections."

 

"I do not want to comment against anyone in the party I belonged to for so many years," he added.

Talking about Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Devendra Fadnavis, Chavan said, "He (Fadnavis) has always been helpful for the development of my region and constituency."

"It is the culture of Maharashtra that only targeting our political opponents is not the way of politics. We have always been together for the betterment of the state. We have a legacy of stalwart politicians who worked for the development of our state," Chavan said.

On being asked about his decision to join the BJP, the former Chief Minister said, "It is my personal decision. No one has asked me to join the BJP. Till the last minute, I was with my ex-colleagues. But the circumstances were such that I had to take this decision for inclusive growth under the leadership of PM Modi."

Speaking about the Adarsh Housing scam case, Chavan said, "The case is in the high court. The law will take its course. I will only say that it was a political accident. I have already faced enough of it.."

A video showed Ashok Chavan being welcomed to the party by Devendra Fadnavis.

Reacting to the development, Fadnavis today said, "We are very happy to welcome the stalwart leader of Maharashtra who worked on both the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha, who served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra and in several ministries."

"I appeal to our state president, Bawankule, to accept Ashok Chavan as a primary member of the BJP, by signing the party form."

Ashok Chavan (65), son of former Chief Minister SB Chavan, on Monday underscored that his choice to depart from the Congress was independent and refrained from attributing specific reasons for his exit.

His exit from the Congress came days after senior Maharashtra Congress leaders Baba Siddique and Milind Deora quit the party.

Courtesy: India Today