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‘Starting new journey’: Day after quitting Congress, Ashok Chavan says he is joining BJP
TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Feb 13, 2024, 11:31 IST
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A day after quitting Congress, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday said he is joining BJP.”Today around 12-12:30, I am going to start a new journey of my political career, I am going to join BJP,” Chavan told reporters.Chavan is the third big name to desert the Congress ship in Maharashtra following the exit of former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora and former MLA Baba Siddique.
NEW DELHI: A day after
quitting
Congress, former Maharashtra chief minister
Ashok Chavan
on Tuesday said he is joining BJP.
“Today around 12-12:30, I am going to start a new journey of my political career, I am going to join BJP,” Chavan told reporters.
Chavan is the third big name to desert the Congress ship in Maharashtra following the exit of former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora and former MLA Baba Siddique.
“I have quit the Congress Party, as MLA and from all other party posts today… I have broken all my involvement with the party. I have no complaints and till yesterday I worked honestly for the party,” Chavan had said on Monday after leaving the grand old party.
There were strong speculations that Ashok Chavan was headed for BJP. After leaving
Congress
, Chavan had said that he will decide his political path in 48 hours.
Who is Ashok Chavan
- Son of late Congress CM Shankarao Chavan, Ashok Chavan is a political heavyweight in Maharashtra and seen as a leader with mass base in Nanded region.
- He began his political career from Congress, holding the position of General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1995 to 1999.
- He later ascended to the role of president of the state Congress unit, a position he held from 2014 to 2019.
- During 1987 to 1989, Chavan represented the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency as a Member of Parliament.
- His political trajectory continued in 1992 when he secured a seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, assuming responsibilities as the minister of state for public works, urban development, and home in March 1993.
- In 2003, he took on the role of Minister for Transport, Ports, Cultural Affairs, and Protocol in the Congress-NCP government under the leadership of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh.
- Subsequently, in November 2004, Chavan was entrusted with key portfolios, including industries, mining, cultural affairs, and protocol in the Maharashtra cabinet.
- Following the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008, Chavan became chief minister of Maharashtra and served for two years.
- However, he stepped down amid allegations of corruption in the Adarsh Housing Society scam case.
- Despite the allegations, the 65-year-old leader won from Nanded in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
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