Ashok Chavan explains decision to join BJP, says 'no work happening in Maharashtra Congress'

Notably, Chavan had lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from his home turf Nanded to his challenger from BJP

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who recently joined hands with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said that the Congress party barely has any strategy in place in the state even though Lok Sabha polls are approaching soon.

The BJP on February 14 fielded Chavan for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra, a day after he joined the ruling party. Chavan hailed the move as the acknowledgement of the trust reposed in a new entrant like him by the BJP leadership.

Speaking about why he left the Congress party after over four decades, Chavan said that things were not moving in the party as expected.

"Several of the colleagues in INDIA bloc are slowly and gradually leaving the alliance for whatever reasons. Election preparations are hardly visible. There is barely any strategy and preparations with regards to the elections. I don't see anything happening in Maharashtra," he told News18.

On being asked why many leaders are breaking away from the INDIA alliance, he said many factors including seat-sharing, are not working out.

"Just criticising the Prime Minister everytime is not going to fetch votes. People are gradually moving because everyone has their own future in mind as well. Things are not working the way it should," he said.

After his name was declared as BJP’s RS nominee, Chavan told reporters that he decided to go with the “mood of the nation which favours BJP”.

“I cannot describe my feelings in words. The BJP has reposed faith in me even though I joined the party yesterday. This is a huge responsibility,” he added.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Chandrakant Bawankule.

Notably, Chavan had lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from his home turf Nanded to his challenger from BJP.

Chavan’s crossing over to BJP is expected to give a boost to the saffron party in his stronghold Marathwada region, amid speculation that some MLAs from Congress may support him in the coming days.

Apart from Ashok Chavan, several other Congress leaders like Vibhakar Shastri, Baba Siddique, Milind Deora, also cut ties with the grand old Congress party in the recent past.

(With inputs from PTI)