Mumbai: Ashok Chavan formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday, a day after he resigned from the Congress. The BJP expects more Congress workers and leaders to switch sides in the next few days.
Chavan, who tendered his resignation as an MLA and primary member of the Congress Monday, said he has no expectations from the BJP in terms of party posts. BJP sources, however, confirmed that the party might nominate Chavan, a former Maharashtra chief minister, for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections though BJP leaders officially said the central leadership will decide on it.
“I am starting a new chapter in my life. I am making a change in my 38-year-old career. Taking Modi’s inspiration, I should be able to work towards Maharashtra’s and the country’s development,” Chavan said at a press conference Tuesday.
“Whatever orders the party will give me I will follow. I have not made any demands from the party,” added Chavan.
Chavan, son of Congress stalwart and former CM Shankarrao Chavan, was an MLA from the Bhokar assembly constituency in Nanded. Other than serving as the Maharashtra CM, Chavan has been a former MP, MLA, and state minister on multiple occasions.
One of Congress’ strongest leaders in not just Nanded but Marathwada as well, he actively participated in the Congress’s election strategy and seat-sharing negotiations with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and the Congress form the MVA.
Speaking during Chavan’s induction into the party, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said the central leadership will decide who will file the nomination for the Rajya Sabha election.
“Meanwhile, we know exactly where we need Ashokrao’s help and we will take that. It is not just his involvement with the MVA, he has had immense political and administrative experience, which will benefit us,” he added.
Also read: Going, going, gone — another Congress dynasty crumbles as Ashok Chavan resigns from party
“More to follow after Rajya Sabha polls”
Fadnavis said that in the next few days, many Congress workers and leaders will join the BJP.
“We don’t want to state any target, but we feel leaders will come with us. More leaders are indeed in talks with us. We don’t want to get into numbers. I will only say that we will welcome the leaders who have ground involvement,” Fadnavis said at the press conference Tuesday.
Another BJP leader, however, told ThePrint that inductions of more Congress MLAs are unlikely before the Rajya Sabha election.
Six Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra are set to retire, and a fresh election is scheduled for 27 February.
MLAs will likely vote, according to the whip issued by their party. According to the current arithmetic of the Maharashtra legislative assembly, the BJP can get three members elected, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP can get one each with the help of smaller parties and independents supporting the ruling coalition. The Congress can get the sixth candidate elected.
With Speaker Rahul Narwekar upholding the Shiv Sena’s whip last month, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs will have to follow as defiance will invite disqualification, the BJP leader quoted above said.
The Speaker’s ruling in the case of the NCP dispute, likely to be announced on 15 February, might be on a similar line, he added.
The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 when Eknath Shinde rebelled against the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, with the majority of MLAs joining hands with the BJP to form a government in the state. The NCP split in July last year when Ajit Pawar rebelled against his uncle, Sharad Pawar, with the majority of MLAs joining the ruling coalition.
“The BJP is in the process of deciding whether to field a fourth candidate in this election. Having Congress MLAs resign and join us will disturb the current arithmetic of seats by reducing the total pool of votes. That won’t be beneficial for us,” the BJP leader said.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also read: Why Maharashtra speaker declared Shinde faction the real Sena — ‘Legislative strength only aspect’