The Congress party has been fortunate in Maharashtra, where political families like the Thorats, Shindes, and Gaikwads have remained loyal over the years. However, after the 2014 Modi wave, a few Congress loyalists such as the Vikhes and Deors gradually drifted towards the BJP or other factions. Despite this, the Chavan family from Nanded, known for their unwavering loyalty to the Gandhi family, stayed with Congress through thick and thin. Ashok Chavan, in particular, was a trusted leader within the party.
But things took a turn when the fear of ED investigations allegedly caused Ashok Chavan to switch sides to the BJP. While everyone knows this chapter of history, the bigger question now is: What lies ahead for Ashok Chavan?
The upcoming state elections will be a true test for Ashok Chavan. His internal and external battles are intensifying, especially with Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan contesting the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll after his father’s death. The situation became more complicated when Chavan’s brother-in-law, former Nanded MP Bhaskarrao Patil-Khatgaonkar, along with ex-MLA Omprakash Pokarna and Minal
Patil-Khatgaonkar, rejoined Congress after initially following Chavan to the BJP. After his resignation from Congress, Ashok Chavan was expected to bring political acumen and influence to the BJP. But so far, it hasn’t worked out. He couldn’t secure a win for BJP in Nanded, a seat that was once seen as a sure victory for the party. This failure was a major setback, especially when BJP’s leadership was unsure about other victories in the state during the Lok Sabha elections.
Chavan’s second challenge came when he failed to manage the Maratha reservation agitation led by activist Manoj Jarange-Patil. As a Maratha leader, Chavan was expected to mediate and calm the situation, but he was unable to do so, leaving the state BJP leadership dissatisfied.
To make matters worse, Chavan has not made any significant impact within Congress either. In fact, his own brother-in-law, Bhaskarrao Patil-Khatgaonkar, returned to Congress, signaling Chavan’s diminishing influence even among his closest allies.
Chavan’s future in BJP looks uncertain. His daughter, who has been involved in social work, is also eyeing the upcoming state elections. But whether her efforts will translate into political success remains to be seen.
Perfect analysis.