Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday welcomed former Chief Minister and ex-Congress leader Ashok Chavan into Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"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 as twice as CM - has joined the BJP," Fadnavis said.
At a press conference after joining the BJP, Ashok Chavan expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others.
"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."
Earlier in the morning, Chavan had formally announced that e would be joining the BJP.
Speaking to ANI, he said, "Today it's a new beginning of my political career. I am formally joining the BJP in their office today...I am hopeful that we will work for the constructive development of Maharashtra."
Ashok Chavan resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party on Monday. Sources close to the party further revealed some MLAs and office bearers of the Congress party are also likely to follow him.
After submitting his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole, he told reporters on Monday, "I have resigned from the Assembly membership as an MLA. I have given my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from the Congress Working Committee and the Congress primary membership."
Ashok Chavan served in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for three terms from 1999 to May 2014. He was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010, when he was forced to resign due to corruption allegations linked to the Adarsh Housing Society scam.
He is the third big name to desert the grand old party's ship in Maharashtra. First to go was the former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique.
According to a report, more MLAs and office bearers of Maharashtra Congress are also likely to follow the suit.
