In a significant setback for the Congress party in Maharashtra, former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Ashok Chavan has resigned from the party's primary membership. Reports suggest that Chavan may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and could be offered a ticket to the Rajya Sabha.

Chavan, who represents Bhokar in the Assembly, handed in his resignation to Speaker Rahul Narvekar. If he joins the BJP, it would mark another major political defection in Maharashtra, following Congress leader Milind Deora's departure last month to join Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

Speaking to reporters, Chavan revealed that he has not made a final decision about joining another party. "I will take a decision in the next couple of days. I have not spoken to any party yet," he said. However, Chavan expressed his dissatisfaction with the delay in finalizing seat-sharing arrangements within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, which comprises the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Congress. The polls are just months away.

Sources within the Congress party indicate that Chavan's differences with state party chief Nana Patole over the selection of candidates may have played a significant role in his decision to switch sides. Chavan, who hails from the influential Chavan family and holds considerable influence in the Nanded region, could prove to be a valuable asset for the BJP in the upcoming elections.

Ashok Chavan has had a vibrant political career thus far. He started as a student leader during his college days and went on to hold important positions in the Congress party, including Maharashtra Congress Chief and member of the Congress Working Committee. Chavan has served as a Member of Parliament from Nanded on two occasions and has been a member of both houses of the state legislature.

He was appointed Chief Minister of Maharashtra following the resignation of Vilasrao Deshmukh after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. However, his tenure was cut short due to corruption allegations relating to the Adarsh Housing Society scam, and he was forced to step down. The Congress party retained him as Chief Minister after the 2009 state elections.

Responding to Chavan's resignation, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig, likening the party-switching phenomenon to a "washing machine." Ramesh accused the BJP of protecting politicians facing criminal investigations and said that those who are vulnerable will always be tempted by the "washing machine" rather than ideological commitment or personal loyalties.

Chavan's decision to resign and the possibility of joining the BJP could have significant implications for the Congress party's prospects in the upcoming general elections and state polls. It remains to be seen how this political development will shape the political landscape in Maharashtra in the months ahead.