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!"
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.
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."
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.
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.