Reportedly in talks with the BJP, former MP and chief minister Ashok Chavan resigned from the Congress’ primary membership, dealing a serious blow to the party months before the state and national elections. Sources claim that the senior leader might be granted a seat in the Rajya Sabha.
Speaking with reporters, Mr. Chavan stated he hasn’t decided whether to join a different party yet. “In the coming days, I’ll make a decision. I have yet to speak with any parties.” With only a few months until the elections, the senior leader, however, seemed to be irritated by the prolonged process of deciding on seat-sharing within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.

Another Congress leader Milind Deora recently dumped the Congress and joined the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena.

In another setback to the Congress in Maharashtra, former Maharashtra minister and Congress’ Muslim face in Mumbai, Baba Siddique, joined the Nationalist Congress Party a few days ago. It is a major boost to the Ajit Pawar-led party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He was welcomed into the party fold by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and top NCP leaders, including the party working president Praful Patel and state unit president Sunil Tatkare.