Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who announced his departure from the Congress party on Monday, stated that he has yet to finalize any decision regarding his potential transition to the BJP and intends to determine his next political steps within the next few days.
In a letter addressed to state Congress president Nana Patole, the 65-year-old Chavan declared his resignation as a primary member of the longstanding party. Additionally, he tendered his resignation as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) to assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
During a media interaction in the present day, Chavan refrained from discussing internal affairs of the Congress party in public. Regarding his future political trajectory, the former Chief Minister mentioned that he would arrive at a decision within the upcoming forty-eight hours.
Responding to inquiries about the possibility of joining the BJP, Chavan emphasized his current lack of a definitive stance, citing unfamiliarity with the BJP's operational framework. He asserted that his resignation from the Congress stemmed from personal motives and declined to attribute specific reasons to his departure.
Chavan dismissed speculations suggesting that his resignation was influenced by the white paper presented in Parliament. The document referenced the Adarsh Building scandal, which led to Chavan's resignation as Maharashtra's Chief Minister in 2010.
Amid widespread speculation about Chavan's potential BJP affiliation, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis adopted a cautious approach, stating, "Let's wait and observe what unfolds." Conversely, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray criticized the BJP, alleging a transformation into "Congress Occupied BJP." Thackeray questioned the BJP's integrity, particularly in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertions about securing a vast majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Thackeray expressed surprise at Chavan's decision, citing his recent involvement in discussions regarding opposition coalition seat allocations. He expressed concerns about politicians prioritizing personal interests over the welfare of farmers.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, BJP state president, remarked on the growing discontent within the Congress party and indicated that several senior leaders are contemplating a switch due to dissatisfaction with their current leadership.
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe criticized the BJP, asserting that the public would retaliate against the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sudhir Mungantiwar, BJP leader and state Forest Minister, suggested that Chavan's departure was fueled by disillusionment with Rahul Gandhi's leadership.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole reaffirmed the party's commitment to preserving democracy and the country's constitution in the face of BJP's alleged authoritarianism.
Leader of the opposition in the assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, warned against coercive tactics to lure opposition leaders, cautioning that such actions would incur political repercussions.
