25 February,2024 10:01 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ashok Chavan with other MLAs who joined BJP/ Screengrab
Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) handed the Congress party a serious blow when roughly 55 former Congress MLAs, led by former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, joined the BJP in Nanded, reported ANI.
Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Ashok Chavan expressed confidence in the party's victory in Nanded, noting that interactions with other BJP officials were encouraging. He welcomed the former Congress MLAs into the party and confirmed their choice to join the BJP.
"Today we talked to BJP leaders and officials regarding the Lok Sabha elections, the conversation was good. Together we will make BJP win in Nanded. There is no doubt in it. 55 former Congress MLAs met me today and expressed their intention of joining the BJP. I told them they were all welcome and gave them entry to join the party," Chava said.
Earlier, on February 21, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed freshly elected BJP Rajya Sabha members, including Ashok Chavan, who defected from the Congress, the report added.
Per the report, Chavan, a former CM of Maharashtra, officially joined the BJP in Mumbai on February 13. His party induction was held at the BJP office in south Mumbai which was attended by dignitaries including Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
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According to the report, Chavan was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra alongside two other nominees, Medha Kulkarni and Ajit Gopchade.
The Election Commission had scheduled Rajya Sabha elections in 15 states for February 27, with results announced on the same day, the ANI report stated.
Leaders and cadres of the saffron party have travelled around the country ahead of the party, participating in programmes such as the Kisan Chaupal project and the farmers' rural parikrama yatra, the ANI report further added.
Prior to the release of the Lok Sabha election dates, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been making tremendous attempts to engage with the public through conferences. The recently finished BJP national convention thoroughly studied and scheduled all programmes relating to the party's outreach activities till March 10, the report added.
