Updated on Feb 13, 6.19 p.m.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with which he will start his new political inning today.

The 66-year-old was accorded a warm welcome to the BJP by state president of Maharashtra Chandrashekhar Bawankule, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar and other senior leaders, at the state party headquarters here this afternoon.

Other seniors like Pravin Darekar, Girish Mahajan, Harshavardhan Patil, were also present to receive Chavan at the BJP office.

He was officially inducted to the BJP with Bawankule signing his membership form amid cheers and applause by the gathering and celebrations outside the BJP office in his hometown Nanded.

Earlier this morning, speaking to media persons, Chavan said that he would start a new chapter in his political career with the BJP from now.

The two-time ex-CM is likely to be nominated as a BJP candidate for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra.

On Feb 12, Chavan dropped a bombshell when he abruptly quit the Congress Party, with which he was associated for over 40 years, and also as the sitting MLA from Bhokar.

“I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of Congress party,” Ashok Chavan reportedly wrote in a short note to party unit chief Nana Patole.

Chavan, who led the Congress government in Maharashtra from 2009-10, is one of the tallest leaders in the state and also close to the Gandhis.

Chavan’s exit from the grand old party comes close on the heels of another top leader Milind Deora quitting the party, days ago.

Some unconfirmed reports suggest that Ashok Chavan is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon.

The exit of another top leader from Congress comes at a time when Rahul Gandhi is rallying support of the masses via his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Reacting to Chavan’s departure from the grand old party, Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that many leaders are feeling suffocated in the Congress party and this is the outcome of this.

“You will see more stunning developments in days to come,” Fadnavis told media persons, hinting at more ‘departures’.

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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