Ashok Chavan says, ‘There’s future in BJP, felt a new start should be made from here’
File photo of Ashok Chavan. PTI.
Ashok Chavan, who joined BJP on Tuesday, revealed the reason for quitting from Congress. Talking to the media, the former Maharashtra chief minister said, “There is a future” in BJP and he felt that a new start should be made for the party.
As per reports, Chavan may be offered a Rajya Sabha seat. After resigning on Monday, he told the media that he would decide on his next step in a couple of days, but in less than 24 hours he made up his mind and now he is a member of the BJP.
Chavan joining BJP is such a short span and the last date to file Rajya Sabha polls nominations nearing indicating that he may have been offered a seat in the Upper House of the parliament.
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The last date to file nominations for the election for 56 Rajya Sabha seats across 15 states is 15 February.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Tuesday said when he spoke to Chavan earlier, the former Congress leader told him that he did not want any big post because he had served in several big posts and he wanted to join Narendra Modi’s work of development for the people.
Joining BJP, ‘a personal decision’
“This is my personal decision. I felt that a new start should be made from here. There is a future here…,” Chavan told reporters soon after joining the BJP.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: After joining BJP, former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan says, “This is my personal decision. I felt that a new start should be made from here. There is a future here…” pic.twitter.com/j85PjcKNW7
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024
“I have joined the BJP with the wish to contribute to the development work of the central government led by (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi. It’s an unconditional move without asking for any post. It’s a new innings for me after serving in politics for a long 38 years,” Chavan said soon after joining the BJP.
Ashok Chavan’s faux pas after joining BJP
Addressing the media soon after being part of the BJP, Chavan made a faux pas by mistakenly referring to Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar as “Mumbai Congress President.”
VIDEO | Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan mistakenly addressed #Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar as Mumbai Congress chief triggering a laughter from Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and others. The incident happened as Chavan addressed the media after joining the BJP earlier today in… pic.twitter.com/Em0VWSRsgy
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2024
His statement, clearly a slip of the tongue, left Chavan a bit embarrassed and drew a round of laughter from BJP supporters who had congregated to welcome him into the party. Fadnavis was seen correcting him before laughing out loud.
In no time, Chavan apologised for the error and said: “I have just joined (the BJP). Hence, the mistake. I am starting a new journey by joining the BJP after 38 years in the Congress.”
Baba Siddique on Chavan quitting Congress
Another former Congress leader Baba Siddique, who quit the party earlier this month and joined NCP, said the grand old party should treat Chavan’s exit as a wake-up call.
Siddique said Chavan had called and told him that their paths would cross each other in the near future.
He even alleged that people are feeling suffocated in Congress.
“Ashok Chavan called me and I told him that we are going to meet soon on the way ahead. More people are going to leave because when a person feels suffocated, he tries to find a way. It is a wake-up call for Congress but I don’t think they are going to wake up,” he said.
With inputs from agencies
