Maharashtra: A day after resigning from Congress, ex-Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joins BJP

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joined the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday afternoon.

Chavan tendered his resignation as an MLA from the Congress party on Monday.

He was welcomed into the saffron party in a ceremony attended by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, and other BJP leaders.

Speaking to mediapersons, after joining the saffron party, Chavan said, "I joined the BJP today. I am grateful to PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and others."

Speaking on the occasion, Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis stated, "It is a matter of happiness that a senior Maharashtra leader, who has been elected to the Maharashtra Assembly and the Lok Sabha and has worked twice as a CM, has joined the BJP.

According to sources, Chavan is likely to be nominated as a BJP candidate for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha in Maharashtra.