'Will Chavan Claim Congress's Hand Symbol': Sanjay Raut On Fadnavis's 'Aage Aage Dekho' Remark

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut questioned whether former Mahrasthra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who resigned from Congress on Monday, would now claim the grand old party and its 'hand' symbol.

File Photos Of Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Sanjay Raut (L) & Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis (R)

FFollowing Ashok Chavan's resignation from the Congress on Monday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut took a jibe, questioning whether the former Maharashtra Chief Minister would stake a claim on the party's 'hand' symbol. Drawing parallels with previous instances involving leaders Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Raut suggested that such a scenario could unfold.

Expressing disbelief over the development, Raut posted on X, saying, "I can't believe it. Till yesterday they were together, discussing; today he left... Will Chavan, like Eknath Mindhe and Ajit Pawar, now claim Congress and take the 'hand' symbol? And will the Election Commission give them to him? Anything can happen in our country!"

अशोक चव्हाण भाजपवासी झाले.विश्वास बसत नाही. काल पर्यंत ते सोबत होते.. चर्चा करीत होते..आज गेले.
एकनाथ मिंधे व अजित पवार यांच्या प्रमाणे चव्हाण सुध्दा आता काँग्रेस वर दावा सांगून हात चिन्ह मिळवणार काय?
आणि निवडणूक आयोग त्यांना ते देणार काय?
आपल्या देशात काहीही घडू शकते!… pic.twitter.com/tjX1XzL3Ns

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) February 12, 2024

Meanwhile, Congress MP Manickam Tagore shared a snippet from the classic Hindi movie 'Sholay', quoting Gabbar Singh: "Jo dhar gaya, sanjo mar gaya" (Whoever is afraid is considered dead). Tagore tagged Chavan's August 2023 post expressing gratitude for being chosen as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), implying a connection to his recent resignation.

True https://t.co/TSUeIiXcbs pic.twitter.com/PsNTdNHrNe

— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) February 12, 2024

Amid speculations about Chavan possibly joining the BJP, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "Several tall leaders of other parties want to join BJP. Especially, several Congress leaders are in touch with us because of the behaviour of the senior leaders. They are feeling suffocated in their party. Who all are in our contact, that will be revealed soon. Aage aage dekhiye hota hain kya."

#WATCH | Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "Several tall leaders of other parties want to join BJP. Especially, several Congress leaders are in touch with us because of the behaviour of the senior leaders. They are feeling suffocated in their party...Who all are in… pic.twitter.com/7rUk9AeTsS

— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024

Chavan formally submitted his resignation from the Congress party's primary membership to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole. Additionally, in a post on X, Chavan announced his resignation as an MLA from the Maharashtra Assembly.

"On Monday, February 12, 2024, I have tendered my resignation as Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 85-Bhokar Assembly Constituency to the Assembly Speaker Rahulji Narvekar," Chavan stated on the social media platform X.

आज सोमवार, दि. १२ फेब्रुवारी २०२४ रोजी मी ८५-भोकर विधानसभा मतदारसंघाच्या सदस्यत्वाचा राजीनामा विधानसभा अध्यक्ष राहुलजी नार्वेकर यांच्याकडे दिला आहे.
Today i.e. on Monday, February 12, 2024, I have tendered my resignation as Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 85-Bhokar…

— Ashok Chavan (@AshokChavanINC) February 12, 2024

Representing Bhokar, Nanded as an MLA, Chavan reportedly had severe differences with state party chief Nana Patole. Chavan becomes the third significant figure to leave the Congress in Maharashtra, following the departures of former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora and former MLA Baba Siddique.

The former MPCC president has an extensive political career, serving as an MP of Lok Sabha, Vice President, and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee.

He served three terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and held the position of Chief Minister from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010.

Chavan resigned over corruption allegations related to the Adarsh Housing Society scam. In the 2014 general elections, he was elected from the Nanded constituency but lost the seat in 2019 to Pratap Patil Chikhalikar of the BJP.

Chavan is the son of Shankarrao Chavan, a former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Union Home Minister.