Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan's security upgraded to 'Y-Plus' category

Ashok Chavan/ File Photo/ Atul Kamble

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Ashok Chavan's security has been upgraded to the 'Y-plus' category due to suspected threats, officials in Mumbai said on Wednesday.

Chavan's security, which was previously classified as 'Y', has now been strengthened, with increased security measures taken at his Mumbai residence and hometown of Nanded, according to an official statement, stated a PTI report.

According to the report, the 'Y-plus' security cover calls for the deployment of two security professionals to protect Chavan, reflecting the enhanced threat perception reported by the state police's VIP security department.

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Chavan, 65, recently resigned from the Congress to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following his conversion, the BJP nominated him as a candidate for the Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra. His election to the upper house was proclaimed uncontested on Tuesday, the report added.

Ashok Chavan felicitated for RS win

The Congress turncoat, who was fielded by the BJP for Rajya Sabha, was felicitated after he won unopposed. The saffron party had fielded Chavan, Medha Kulkarni and Ajit Gopchade who also won the Rajya Sabha seats. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis felicitated and congratulated the BJP's newly elected Rajya Sabha members, reported news agency ANI.

Prior to the Rajya Sabha elections, Ashok Chavan had told ANI, "I am hopeful that things will work out well. By becoming a member of the Rajya Sabha, there is a much wider scope to work at the national level. More than that, I will be happy to associate myself with the party's strategy, planning, and working."

Sharad Pawar alleges Adarsh Housing scam prompted his exit from Congress

NCP founder Sharad Pawar suggested that mention of Adarsh Housing Scam in a white paper tabled in Parliament might have influenced Ashok Chavan's decision to quit Congress and join the saffron party. However, Chavan denied the claims, reported PTI.

Chavan is one of the accused in the Adarsh Housing scam which involved the construction of a 31-storey building in south Mumbai allegedly on land owned by the Defence Ministry without necessary permissions. The scandal led to Chavan's resignation as Chief Minister in 2010.

"The reason is that the BJP had tabled a white paper on their last 10 years of performance and their opinions about the opposition. In that white paper, there was a mention of the Adarsh Society and Ashok Chavan. After that mention, we assumed that it could be one kind of a threat, and (Chavan's exit) was a result of that threat," the former union minister told reporters.