Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan resigns from Congress; likely to join BJP

MUMBAI: While the Lok Sabha elections are approaching, the Congress has suffered yet another setback in Maharashtra. Former chief minister and senior leader Ashok Chavan has left the party. Chavan resigned from the party's primary membership today afternoon. He has also resigned as an MLA. Meanwhile, reports are claiming that Chavan may soon join the BJP.

It is reported that the BJP has offered a Rajya Sabha seat to Ashok Chavan. Meanwhile, Chavan told the media that he cannot say anything about joining another party now and that he will divulge his political plans within 2 days.

Chavan had earlier responded that he was disappointed that the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra could not complete the seat-sharing even though the elections are fast approaching. Chavan is an MLA from the Bhokar assembly constituency.

A few days ago, another prominent leader of the state Congress, Milind Deora, had left the party. Deora joined the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.