Ashok Chavan quits Congress: The ex-Maharashtra CM's political journey in 10 points

Despite facing graft allegations and an anti-incumbency wave, Ashok Chavan secured a substantial victory in the Nanded constituency during the 2014 general election, where he has always enjoyed strong foothold.

In a significant setback for the Congress in Maharashtra, former Chief Minister and ex-MP Ashokrao Shankarrao Chavan announced his resignation from the party's primary membership, months before the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Notably, Ashokrao was one of the most influential leaders of the Congress in Maharashtra, with a political career spanning more than three decades.

Hailing from a powerful political family in Maharashtra's Nanded district, Ashokrao is the son of Shankarrao Chavan, who served as the former Chief Minister. This familial legacy marks them as the first father-son duo to hold the position of Chief Minister in the state's history.

Here are 10 key points of the former CM's political journey:

1. Ashokrao's political journey has been noteworthy, starting as a student leader at the University of Pune, holding the position of University Representative (UR).

2. From 1987 to 1989, he served as a Member of Parliament representing the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency under the Congress.

3. In 1992, he secured a seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, and subsequently assumed the role of Minister of State for Public Works, Urban Development, and Home in March 1993.

4. Ashokrao served as the General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1995 to 1999. The former CM later progressed through key roles in the party, including Maharashtra Congress chief and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member.

5. Ashokrao assumed the position of the 16th Chief Minister in Maharashtra on December 8, 2008, following the Mumbai terror attacks which led to the resignation of the erstwhile chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

6. His term was, however, shortlived, as he stepped down as the CM nearly a year later on November 9, 2010, following the Congress' request for his resignation amid graft allegations related to the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

7. Before assuming the role of CM, Ashokrao had served as the Minister for Cultural Affairs, Industries, Mines, and Protocol in the Vilasrao Deshmukh government between 2004 and 2008.

8. Prior to that, he served as the Minister for Transport, Ports, Cultural Affairs, and Protocol in 2003 in the Deshmukh cabinet.

9. Despite facing graft allegations and an anti-incumbency wave, he secured a substantial victory in the Nanded constituency during the 2014 general elections, where he has always enjoyed a strong foothold. In 2015, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Maharashtra Pradesh Legislative Committee.

10. He, nevertheless, experienced a setback in the 2019 parliamentary elections, losing the Nanded seat to Pratap Patil Chiharikal of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Ashokrao has expressed dissatisfaction with the party and is anticipated to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).