Ashok Chavan, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, will officially join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, a day after resigning from the Congress. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and State BJP Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule will attend the Mumbai induction ceremony at the BJP’s Nariman Point office. Chavan is anticipated to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for February 27. Concurrently, former MLC and Congress leader Amarnath Rajurkar is expected to join the BJP alongside Chavan.
Having served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for three years in the Congress-NCP government from December 2008 to November 2010, Chavan, 65, has been a prominent political figure. Initially entering ministerial roles in 1993 and later resuming office in 1999 under the Vilasrao Deshmukh government, Chavan ascended to the position of Chief Minister in 2008 following Deshmukh’s resignation after the Mumbai terror attacks. Under his leadership, the Congress-NCP alliance secured victory in the 2009 assembly elections.
However, his tenure was cut short due to allegations of involvement in the Adarsh Housing Scam, centered around the improper allocation of housing units built on defense land meant for Kargil war heroes. Accusations emerged regarding the acquisition of three flats in the Cuffe Parade apartment complex by Chavan’s wife Ameeta’s family. The ongoing court case is examining the alleged impropriety in the Adarsh scandal.
Chavan’s departure from the Congress has been considered a significant loss for the party. Described as one of the few leaders with a robust mass base and the ability to secure candidate victories, Chavan was recognized for his organizational skills and widespread support within the party across Maharashtra. A senior Congress leader emphasized the substantial impact of Chavan’s departure, projecting potential losses in Lok Sabha and assembly seats in the Marathwada region.
As Chavan embarks on his political transition, the coming days will reveal the implications for both the BJP and the Congress in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
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