After former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan jumped the ship from Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, speculations are rife that the saffron party is in touch with Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam and is seeking to bring him into its camp ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.


Speaking on the matter, Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Friday that people like Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam are always welcome in the party if he is ready and his thoughts align with the saffron party. He further stated that Nirupam is well recognised in North India.


"Seeing the political tenure of Sanjay Nirupam, he has done a lot of work for connecting people with Congress. He is well-recognized in North India. Talks with Sanjay Nirupam have not happened yet, but he if is ready and his thoughts align with the BJP, then people like him are always welcome," Bawankule said.






Last month, after quitting Congress, Ashok Chavan joined the BJP in Mumbai. Chavan was the third major political figure to leave the Congress in Maharashtra, after former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora and former MLA Baba Siddique. 


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While informing media about his decision to join the saffron party, the former Maharashtra CM had said: "Today it's a new beginning of my political career. I am formally joining the BJP in their office today...I am hopeful that we will work for the constructive development of Maharashtra," as quoted by ANI.