Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced his resignation from the Congress party on Monday, sparking speculation about his potential shift towards the BJP.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Chavan's departure is being viewed as a significant setback for the Congress party.
In a letter addressed to the state Congress president Nana Patole, Chavan, aged 65, conveyed his decision to step down as a primary member of the grand old party.
Additionally, he tendered his resignation as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) to assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
Chavan's departure from the Congress follows closely on the heels of exits by senior Maharashtra Congress leaders, including Baba Siddique and Milind Deora.
As rumors swirl regarding Chavan's possible BJP affiliation, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, when questioned by reporters, remarked, "Aagey aagey dekho hota hai kya" (wait and watch what happens).
A native of Nanded district in the Marathwada region, Chavan carries a political legacy, being the son of the late Shankarrao Chavan, who also served as the chief minister of Maharashtra.
Chavan relinquished his post as chief minister in 2010 amidst allegations linking him to the Adarsh housing scam in Mumbai. He subsequently held the position of state Congress chief from 2014 to 2019.
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