Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Shankarrao Chavan has delivered a significant blow to the Congress party by tendering his resignation, including stepping down as an MLA, on Monday.
Chavan’s decision, communicated to state Congress President Nana Patole, has fueled speculation about his potential switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the likelihood of securing a Rajya Sabha ticket.
The unexpected move by the 66-year-old leader has triggered intense political activity, with Chavan meeting Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar before withdrawing from public communication.
While Chavan’s resignation letter designates him as a ‘former’ MLA from the Bhokar Assembly constituency, it offers no explicit reasons for his departure from the party.
In response to these developments, Patole has rushed to New Delhi for urgent discussions with senior party leaders regarding Chavan’s abrupt exit.