Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan Resigns From Congress, Third Big Exit In A Month After Milind Deora, Baba Siddique

Troubles mount for Maharashtra Congress as former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan resigned from the party on Monday (12 February), making it the third big exit in a month after Milind Deora and Baba Siddique left the party.

According to NDTV sources, Chavan might join BJP and get a ticket for Rajya Sabha. He currently represents Bhokar, from where he was an MLA twice (2009 and 2019). He handed his resignation to Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.

Bhokar is one of the Assembly segments in the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency, from where Chavan became an MP in 2014 but lost to BJP candidate in the 2019 elections.

Chavan also wrote his resignation letter to Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole without citing any reasons for leaving the party. Apparently, the two leaders had differences which pushed Chavan to resign.

The 65-year-old leader was Maharashtra CM for two years between 2008 and 2010. He also served as Minister in the Sushilkumar Shinde Cabinet, Vilasrao Deshmukh Cabinet and the Uddhav Thackeray Cabinet.

Earlier, when Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis was asked about speculations of Chavan joining the BJP, he said, "I can say that several good leaders from Congress are in touch of BJP. I am confident that some big faces will join from Congress."