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Ashok Chavan
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Ashok Shankarrao Chavan (born 28 October 1958)[1] is an Indian politician from Maharashtra. He is the son of the late former Maharashtra Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan. He was one of the most influential leaders of Indian National Congress in Maharashtra but joined Bhartiya Janata Party on 13 February 2024.[2] He served as the chief minister of Maharashtra state from 8 December 2008 to 9 November 2010.

Key Information

On 9 November 2010, the Congress Party asked him to resign from office over corruption allegations relating to Adarsh Housing Society scam.[3] In the 2014 general elections, despite the allegations and anti-incumbency wave, he won the Lok Sabha election from his Nanded constituency with a comfortable margin. In 2015, he was appointed the president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. Chavan lost his Nanded seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha election to Pratap Patil Chikhalikar of the BJP.[4]

Chavan belongs to an influential political family based in Nanded district of Maharashtra state. He is the son of Shankarrao Chavan, a former chief minister of Maharashtra himself; they are the first father–son duo in the state's history to become chief ministers.[5][6] His brother-in-law Bhaskarrao Bapurao Khatgaonkar Patil was a three-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and a three-time MP, and Chavan's wife, Amita was MLA from Bhokar constituency in Nanded for years 2014-19.

Personal life

[edit]

Chavan[7] did his schooling at the St. Xavier's High School, Fort.[8] He graduated in Science and has obtained his Master's in Business Management from Hazarimal Jomani College and B.Y.K. College of Commerce.[9]

Chavan belongs to a political dynasty that includes his father and wife.[10] Chavan's father, Shankarrao Chavan had a long career as a minister and was twice, the chief minister of Maharashtra. He had also served as a senior minister in the national government under various Congress governments. Ashok Chavan is married to Ameeta (née Sharma). Ameeta is current member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Bhokar constituency which has previously been represented by both Shankarrao Chavan and Chavan himself. The couple has twin daughters Srijaya and Sujaya.[11]

Political career

[edit]

Organisational

[edit]

He started career as student leader of University of Pune occupying post of University Representative (UR).

He started his political career in Congress Party as general secretary, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1995 to 1999.

President: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 2014 to 2019.

MEMBER: CONGRESS WORKING COMMITTEE from August 2023 to 12 February 2024.

On 12 February 2024, he resigned from the Congress Party's primary membership.[12]

On 13 February 2024, he joined BJP.

Electoral politics

[edit]

In 1987–89, he held post of Member of Parliament from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency.

In 1992, he was elected as M.L.C. to the Maharashtra Legislative Council and later joined as minister of state for public works, urban development and home in March 1993.

In 2003, Vilasrao Deshmukh appointed Chavan as minister for transport, ports, cultural affairs and protocol.

In November 2004, he was given the portfolio of industries, mining, cultural affairs and protocol in Maharashtra cabinet.[5]

As a cabinet minister

[edit]

Tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra

[edit]
The prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh along with the chief minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Maharashtra, Shri Ashok Chavan and the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources, Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal at the signing ceremony of a tripartite MoU for preparation of DPR of Damanganga-Pinjal Link Project and Par-Tapi-Narmada Link Project, in New Delhi on 3 May 2010.

In the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Vilasrao Deshmukh took the moral responsibility and offered to resign, which was then accepted by the party and Chavan was elected as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.[13][14]

After winning assembly elections in 2009, Congress President Sonia Gandhi once again nominated Chavan as the chief minister of Maharashtra. Sharad Pawar, the leader of rival coalition partner NCP party, had been lukewarm towards Chavan, after his first choice of union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was ignored well before the race began.[15][16][17]

Congress had clearly plumped for a Maratha to lead the party in the state, and had ignored the NCP view that a non-Maratha should be selected for the position to set right the social combination.[citation needed]

As a result, NCP chose a non-Maratha, Chhagan Bhujbal to occupy the deputy chief minister's post and gave the home ministry to Jayant Patil. The latter being a Maratha balanced the NCP's own bid to remain the community's first choice.[citation needed] Chavan was asked to resign as chief minister during a meeting with Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, after it emerged that three of his relatives owned apartments in the Adarsh Housing Society which was created specifically to house Indian war veterans in the upmarket Colaba area of Mumbai.[18] He was succeeded by Prithviraj Chavan.

Post Chief Minister

[edit]

Despite the corruption allegations, the Congress party put him up as a party candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. He won the election by a huge margin. In Maharashtra, Rajiv Satav and Chavan were the only Congress candidates elected.

In 2015, he took over as the chief of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.[19]

Chavan contested the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections from Nanded Constituency but lost the election to BJP's Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar. He is one of the 9 former chief ministers of Congress who lost in Lok Sabha 2019 Election.[20] In February 2024, he was nominated for Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra by the BJP.[21]

Guinness Book Record

[edit]

Both father-son duo has a unique record having been elected in Both Houses of Parliament as well as State legislature.

Controversy, scams and allegations

[edit]

Apart from the much discussed Adarsh Housing Society Scam, Chavan was accused of using his office to fund his relatives' bank.[22] Recently High court of Maharashtra state denied permission to the agency investigating the Adarsh scam to question Chavan.

In the 2009 Assembly Elections, he was accused of hiding expenses on a paid supplement titled Ashok Parva in a leading Marathi daily.[23] However, he denied the allegation by the Election Commission of India of having inserted favourable Paid News in newspapers.[24]

Election's record

[edit]
  • 1999 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Election
    • Constituency: Mudkhed-Nanded (Nanded district)
    • Result: Won with a strong majority.
    • Role: Served as minister of transport in the Maharashtra government.
  • 2004 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Election
    • Constituency: Mudkhed-Nanded (Nanded district)
    • Result: Won with a strong majority.
    • Role: Served as Minister of Industries, Mines, Protocol, and Cultural Affairs in the Maharashtra government.
  • 2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Election
    • Constituency: Bhokar
    • Result: Reelected with a significant margin.
    • Role: Appointed the chief minister of Maharashtra following the election. However, he resigned in 2010 due to allegations related to the Adarsh Housing Society scam.
  • 2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Election
    • Constituency: Bhokar
    • Result: Chavan's wife Ameeta Bhabhi elected despite a challenging political environment due to the decline of Congress's influence in the state.
    • Role: Continued as a key Congress leader in Maharashtra.
  • 2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Election
    • Constituency: Bhokar
    • Result: Won against BJP candidate Bapusaheb Gorthekar.
    • Role: Played a pivotal role in forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government.
SI No. Year Legislative Assembly Constituency Margin Party Post
1. 2009 12th Bhokar 1,07,503 Indian National Congress Chief Minister of Maharashtra
2. 2019 14th Bhokar 97,445 Indian National Congress PWD Minister of Maharashtra

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ashok Chavan

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from Grokipedia

Ashok Shankarrao Chavan (born 28 October 1958) is an Indian politician and current member of the representing the . The son of former , he entered politics with the , serving as a member from in 1987 and holding various state ministerial portfolios before becoming Chief Minister of Maharashtra from November 2008 to November 2010. His tenure ended with resignation amid allegations of involvement in the Adarsh Housing Society scam, where a building intended for war widows and defense personnel was improperly allotted to politicians and officials. After nearly four decades in , Chavan resigned from the party in February 2024 and joined the BJP the following day, marking a significant shift in his political career.

Early Life and Education

Family Background

Ashok Shankarrao Chavan was born into a politically influential family in Nanded, Maharashtra, as the son of Shankarrao Bhaurao Chavan and Kusumtai Shankarrao Chavan. His father, Shankarrao Bhaurao Chavan (14 July 1920 – 26 February 2004), was a veteran leader of the Indian National Congress who rose from grassroots involvement to hold high office, including two terms as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1975 to 1977 and 1986 to 1988. Shankarrao also served in key Union Cabinet roles, such as Home Minister, and as Governor of Karnataka, establishing a legacy of administrative experience in state and national governance that profoundly shaped his son's political path. Details on his mother, Kusumtai, are limited in public records, with no prominent political or professional roles attributed to her; she is noted primarily in familial contexts alongside her husband's career. The family's multi-generational ties to the party underscored a of , though Ashok Chavan later diverged by joining the in 2024.

Academic and Early Professional Pursuits

Ashok Chavan earned a degree from Hazarimal Jomani College in , . He subsequently obtained a from B.Y.K. College of Commerce in , . Prior to entering politics, Chavan engaged in entrepreneurial and agricultural activities, including operating as an authorized (LPG) distributor, as well as managing landholding and farming interests. These pursuits aligned with his family's established rural base in , providing a foundation before his formal political debut in the in 1987.

Political Career in Indian National Congress

Organizational Roles and Rise Within the Party

Ashok Chavan's entry into the Indian National Congress was rooted in student activism, where he initially built his base as a student leader leveraging his family's political legacy. As the son of S. B. Chavan, a longtime Congress heavyweight who served as Union Home Minister and Maharashtra Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan benefited from established networks within the party's Maharashtra unit, enabling a structured ascent through its youth and state apparatuses. His formal organizational roles commenced in the youth wing, where he held the positions of and General of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995, focusing on mobilizing young cadres and expanding grassroots influence in the state. These roles positioned him as a key operator in party mobilization during a period of Congress dominance in , though specific initiatives under his tenure remain less documented amid the party's internal focus on electoral consolidation. Chavan's elevation to senior leadership occurred in January 2015, when the high command appointed him President of the (MPCC), succeeding Manikrao Thakre amid efforts to stabilize the state unit post-2014 assembly election losses. In this capacity, he oversaw organizational restructuring, candidate selection for local polls, and alliance negotiations within the -led coalitions, retaining the post until 2019 despite controversies like the scam inquiries that tested party loyalty. His tenure marked a peak in influence, with reports indicating sway over roughly half of the party's 44 MLAs in by 2024, underscoring his role in sustaining factional balances amid declining electoral fortunes.

Electoral Contests in Assembly and Parliament

Chavan entered elective politics through the , winning the Mudkhed constituency as an candidate in the 1999 election. He defended the seat successfully in the before resigning following his parliamentary victory later that year. After a period focused on parliamentary contests, Chavan returned to assembly elections in 2019, securing victory in the Bhokar constituency with 140,559 votes as the nominee, marking a strong performance in his family stronghold amid post-Lok Sabha loss repositioning. In parliamentary elections, Chavan first contested the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in 2009, winning as the Congress candidate and subsequently serving as a member of Parliament. He retained the seat in the 2014 general election, polling 493,075 votes (48.7% vote share) and defeating BJP's D. B. Patil by a margin of 81,455 votes. However, he lost the constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha election to BJP's Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar, who secured victory with 43.10% of the vote share in a region-wide shift toward the .
YearElection TypeConstituencyPartyResultKey Statistics
1999AssemblyMudkhedINCWonElected as MLA
2004AssemblyMudkhedINCWonRetained seat before resignation
2009Lok SabhaINCWonElected to Parliament
2014Lok SabhaINCWon493,075 votes; margin 81,455 over BJP
2019AssemblyBhokarINCWon140,559 votes
2019Lok SabhaINCLostDefeated by BJP candidate

State Ministerial Positions

Ashok Chavan served as for , Urban Development, and in the government from 1993 to 1995. In this role, he handled responsibilities related to infrastructure development, , and internal security matters under the -led administration. Chavan was elevated to full cabinet rank in 2004, serving as Minister for Industries, , Cultural Affairs, and Protocol until 2008 in the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led -Nationalist Congress Party . These portfolios encompassed oversight of industrial growth, mineral resource management, promotion of arts and heritage, and ceremonial protocols. During this period, he also managed aspects of transportation and ports, contributing to policy initiatives in economic and cultural sectors. His tenure in these positions positioned him as a key administrator in Maharashtra's executive, focusing on development and governance reforms prior to his ascension to in 2008.

Tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra

Ashok Chavan was sworn in as Chief Minister of Maharashtra on 8 2008, succeeding Vilasrao Deshmukh who resigned amid public and political backlash over the state government's response to the 26 November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Chavan, nominated by president , prioritized restoring public security and confidence as his immediate focus following the attacks that killed 166 people. Chavan's initial term lasted until the October 2009 state assembly elections, in which the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance secured a with 144 seats, allowing him to continue in office. He was re-sworn as on 7 2009, heading the Democratic Front government. During this period, the administration addressed urban challenges including infrastructure improvements and flood management, though specific policy outcomes remain sparsely documented in contemporary reports. Chavan's tenure ended abruptly on 9 November 2010 when he resigned, becoming the third to step down over allegations. The resignation stemmed from his implicated role in the Adarsh Housing Society scam, involving the of a 31-storey building on prime defence land in , originally intended for widows but allotted to politicians, bureaucrats, and their relatives, including Chavan's cousins and sister-in-law. Allegations included , procedural violations in clearances from and urban development authorities, and personal gain through unauthorized flat allocations, prompting media exposés and a CBI probe. Chavan denied direct involvement but offered to resign taking , after which succeeded him. The scandal highlighted systemic issues in land allocation and regulatory oversight under his government.

Transition to Bharatiya Janata Party

Resignation from Congress

On February 12, 2024, Ashok Chavan, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a long-time member of the (INC), resigned from the party's primary membership, marking a significant departure after over four decades of association. He submitted his resignation letter to president , simultaneously stepping down from his positions as a () from the South constituency and as a member of the (). Chavan described the decision as personal and indicated he would disclose his future political plans within 48 hours, amid immediate speculation of a shift to the (). The resignation represented the third high-profile exit from the Maharashtra Congress in a month, following those of former Union minister Milind Deora on January 14, 2024, and senior leader Baba Siddique earlier that month, both of whom joined the BJP or Shiv Sena factions aligned with it. Chavan, who had been actively involved in party operations at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi until the moment of resignation, offered no explicit reasons for his exit, though observers noted ongoing internal party tensions and the INC's electoral struggles in Maharashtra as contextual factors. Congress leadership responded critically, with spokespersons labeling Chavan and similar defectors as "betrayers" who abandon the party during challenging times, a attributed to the INC's communication wing amid broader accusations of opposition by the . This event echoed Chavan's prior forced resignation as in November 2010 over the Adarsh Housing Society scam allegations, from which he had recovered politically within the INC until 2024.

Formal Joining of BJP and Initial Roles

On February 13, 2024, Ashok Chavan formally joined the (BJP) at the party's state headquarters in , one day after resigning from the and the . The ceremony was attended by senior BJP leaders, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and state BJP president , who welcomed Chavan and highlighted his experience as a potential asset for the party's organizational strengthening in the state. Chavan, who had served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 2008 to 2010 and later from 2010 to 2014 under the Congress-led government, described his decision as a "new beginning" in his political journey, citing inspiration from Narendra Modi's vision for development and national progress. He committed to working towards the BJP's goals, including supporting the party's candidates in the forthcoming elections, without specifying immediate personal electoral ambitions at the time of joining. Alongside Chavan, former Congress MLA Amar Rajurkar from also joined the BJP, signaling a potential wave of defections from the opposition in . Following his induction, Chavan did not receive an immediate formal party position such as a state executive role or spokesperson designation; instead, BJP leaders indicated that his integration would focus on leveraging his regional influence in and to bolster the party's grassroots outreach and counter opposition narratives ahead of state and national polls. This move was part of a broader pattern of high-profile Congress exits to the BJP in , though Chavan refrained from critiquing his former party publicly during the joining event.

Rajya Sabha Membership and Recent Legislative Activities

Ashok Chavan was elected to the from as a candidate during the biennial elections in February 2024. He filed his nomination on 15 February 2024, following his formal entry into the BJP, and assumed office on 3 April 2024 for a six-year term. In the , Chavan has focused primarily on raising questions, with a total of 148 submitted as of 2025, surpassing the national average of 77 and the state average of 97. Examples include unstarred questions on incentives for domestic shipyards on 10 December 2024 and coal production trends on 9 December 2024. His participation in debates has been limited to 4 instances, below the national average of 43, with no private member's bills introduced. Key interventions include speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address on 2 July 2024, where he defended the government's handling of the NEET-UG examination irregularities and criticized opposition narratives on systemic changes to education policies. During the Budget Session on 4 February 2025, he urged enhanced infrastructure development, specifically advocating for more highways and faster rail connectivity in the Marathwada region to boost economic growth. Chavan's attendance in sessions has averaged 56% through mid-2025, including 48% in the , 53% in the Winter Session 2024, and 62% in the Budget Session 2025, falling short of the national average of 80%.

Electoral Record

Summary of Wins and Losses

Ashok Chavan has contested direct elections primarily in the region of , achieving victories in multiple state assembly polls and one parliamentary election before suffering a notable defeat in 2019. His electoral success has been concentrated within the prior to his switch to the in 2024, after which he has not contested direct polls but secured to the unopposed. The following table summarizes his verified direct electoral contests:
YearTypeConstituencyPartyResultVotes SecuredSource
2014Lok SabhaNandedINCWon493,075 (48.7%)
2019Lok SabhaNandedINCLostNot specified (defeated by BJP's Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar at 43.10%)
2019AssemblyBhokarINCWon140,559 (68.2%)
Chavan's sole documented loss occurred in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls amid a broader setback in , where the party secured minimal seats statewide. His wins reflect strong local support in , though post-defection influence has been mixed, with family members securing subsequent victories in allied seats like Bhokar in 2024. No additional direct contests or losses are recorded after 2019.

Influence on Family and Allied Constituencies

Ashok Chavan's political stature facilitated the entry of his daughter, Sreejaya Chavan, into electoral , marking a continuation of the family's multi-generational dominance in the within . Bhokar served as a Chavan family bastion, where Ashok secured victories in the 2004, 2009, and 2014 elections on a ticket, leveraging his organizational network and regional influence among Maratha voters. Following his resignation from on February 12, 2024, and subsequent joining of the , Sreejaya was fielded by the BJP as its candidate for Bhokar in the November 20, 2024, assembly polls, defeating Congress's Tirupati Kondhekar by a margin of approximately 24,000 votes and thereby retaining the family's hold on the seat. This success underscored Chavan's residual sway in Bhokar despite his party switch, as his endorsement and local cadre mobilization contributed to Sreejaya's debut victory, which salvaged some prestige for him amid broader electoral challenges in the region. However, his transition to the BJP prompted defections among allies and loyalists, including his brother-in-law and ex-MP Bhaskarrao Patil-Khatgaonkar, who resigned from the BJP in September 2024, citing dissatisfaction with the leadership's handling of post-switch integrations. Such rifts highlighted limits to Chavan's influence, as several Congress-era associates distanced themselves, potentially weakening his leverage in allied rural pockets of . In wider allied constituencies tied to Chavan's base, his influence yielded mixed outcomes post-2024 defection. While Sreejaya's win bolstered BJP prospects in Bhokar, the party struggled in adjacent areas, with retaining the seat in a bypoll triggered by the death of its MP, despite Chavan's efforts to rally support for the BJP nominee. This pattern reflected a dilution of his clout beyond core family strongholds, as voter resentment over his exit contributed to narrower margins for BJP allies in segments historically aligned with Chavan's network.

Notable Achievements and Contributions

Guinness World Record

No Guinness World Record has been officially verified or awarded to Ashok Chavan in any category, including political accomplishments or public service initiatives during his tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Claims circulating in some online sources regarding a "record" for the father-son duo of Ashok and Yashwantrao Chavan—both having served in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha—appear unsubstantiated and are not recognized by the official Guinness World Records organization, which maintains strict verification processes for entries related to human achievements. Yashwantrao Chavan was elected to the Maharashtra Assembly multiple times, including from Karad in 1957, and to the Lok Sabha from Satara in 1980, while holding key Union Cabinet positions; however, his parliamentary service did not extend to an elected Rajya Sabha term. Ashok Chavan has been elected to the Maharashtra Assembly from constituencies like Bhokar and Nanded, served in the Lok Sabha from Nanded (2004–2009), and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2024 as a BJP member, but these do not constitute a Guinness-sanctioned milestone. The absence of such a record underscores that political dynastic service, while notable in Indian electoral history, falls outside Guinness criteria, which prioritize measurable, exceptional feats over routine legislative participation.

Policy and Developmental Initiatives

During his tenure as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from November 2008 to December 2010, Ashok Chavan prioritized development, particularly in urban transport and regional balancing, with initiatives aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic growth. One prominent project was the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, a 5.6-kilometer connecting Mumbai's suburbs to the island city, which was operationalized under his administration to alleviate and boost commercial activity. Chavan also advocated for studying advanced models abroad, embarking on a visit to the in June 2010 to examine transport systems, with the intent to replicate efficient practices in . Additionally, he emphasized Mumbai's transformation into a world-class financial hub through targeted investments, including proposals for under amended Development Control Rules to facilitate state-led land acquisition for urban projects. In and , Chavan's government allocated substantial funds for , notably announcing a Rs 10,000 package for in December 2009, which included Rs 3,098 for completing 20 projects to bring 57,577 hectares under cultivation. Overall, the state expended over Rs 64,000 on initiatives during the preceding four years under Congress-led governance, though Chavan later acknowledged in 2018 that this spending yielded no measurable increase in irrigated land, highlighting inefficiencies in project execution. These efforts were part of broader claims to develop to "global standards," with Chavan stating in August 2010 that the state aimed to leverage its economic dominance—contributing a significant share of India's GDP—through enhanced water infrastructure. Chavan also pushed for balanced industrial growth to address regional disparities, urging corporate investment in underdeveloped areas beyond and during a March 2010 address, while securing funding for pet projects like the Rs 817 crore infrastructure , which included roads and utilities but was later found by a legislative panel to violate environmental and procedural norms. In , his administration continued and expanded schemes like the Jeevandayee Arogya , providing cashless treatment up to Rs 2 lakh per family for critical illnesses, though implementation faced criticism for delays and limited coverage. These initiatives, while ambitious, were often critiqued for poor outcomes relative to expenditure, with independent assessments noting persistent gaps in irrigation coverage and urban project delivery despite fiscal commitments.

Adarsh Housing Society Scam

The Adarsh Housing Society scam involved the irregular construction and allotment of a 31-storey luxury apartment building on prime defence land in Colaba, Mumbai, originally intended exclusively for the welfare of Kargil war widows and retired defence personnel. The project, initiated in 2003, violated coastal regulation zone norms, environmental clearances, and height restrictions for the area, with the building exceeding permissible limits through unauthorized approvals. Flats were allotted at concessional rates—often below market value—to ineligible civilians, including politicians, bureaucrats, and their relatives, instead of the designated beneficiaries, leading to allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery. The scam surfaced publicly in November 2010 following media exposés and a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report highlighting 25 illegal allotments, including proxy purchases. Ashok Chavan, then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, faced central accusations of facilitating the irregularities during his tenures as Revenue Minister (2003–2004) and (2008–2010). As Revenue Minister, he allegedly approved the diversion of 40% of the society's flats for civilian allottees, contravening the project's defence-only mandate, and recommended three flats for his relatives: his mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and another family member. In his CM role, Chavan purportedly granted additional floor space index (FSI) permissions, enabling the building's expansion to 31 floors, in exchange for two flats allocated to his relatives at undervalued prices. These actions were cited by the CBI as involving abuse of official position for undue benefits, with the agency's 2011 FIR charging him under IPC sections for and Section 13(1)(e) of the . The (CBI) filed a in 2016 against and 12 others, detailing his role in the FSI approvals and flat allotments as arrangements. resigned as CM on November 9, 2010, amid mounting pressure, though he denied wrongdoing and claimed the allotments were legitimate. Legal proceedings have protracted: In December 2017, the quashed the Maharashtra Governor's sanction for 's prosecution in one aspect, citing procedural lapses, but upheld CBI probes into related charges. A stay since 2018 has halted trial commencement, leaving the case in pretrial limbo as of 2024, with no conviction or acquittal recorded. The also probed money laundering angles but has not filed a against him specifically in this matter. The paid news allegations against Ashok Chavan originated from his campaign in the constituency, where complaints accused him of under-reporting election expenditures by failing to account for payments to regional newspapers for advertisements disguised as unpaid news coverage. The (ECI) initiated scrutiny following reports from its monitoring teams and the Press Council of India, which identified multiple instances of favorable articles in Marathi dailies that appeared to be sponsored content not reflected in Chavan's submitted expense ledger. On May 30, 2014, the ECI formalized five specific charges against , including inaccurate declaration of election expenses, non-disclosure of paid publicity materials as news, and violations of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, potentially warranting disqualification for up to three years. challenged the ECI's authority to investigate such cases, but the dismissed his petition on May 5, 2014, upholding the ECI's jurisdiction over false expenditure declarations linked to paid news under electoral laws. In response, the ECI issued a show-cause notice on July 13, 2014, holding guilty of submitting inaccurate accounts and failing to comply with expenditure reporting norms, directing him to explain why he should not face disqualification. Chavan denied the allegations, asserting that the issue of paid news had been ruled out by prior ECI observations and that the publications were legitimate advertisements or earned coverage, not requiring inclusion in his election expense returns. The Press Council of India, in its 2010 report on paid news during the 2009 elections, criticized both and involved media outlets for practices that blurred advertising and journalism, though it stopped short of recommending direct penalties. Ultimately, the quashed the ECI's proceedings on September 13, 2014, citing procedural irregularities and lack of conclusive evidence that the materials constituted undisclosed election expenses, thereby lifting the threat of disqualification and clearing Chavan of the charges. No further legal action ensued, though the case highlighted broader concerns over paid news in Indian elections.

Other Corruption and Scams Allegations

In August 2011, police filed an against Ashok Chavan, then former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with 15 others, including state Education Minister and MP Vijay Darda, in connection with alleged irregularities in the Darda Nagar housing society land deal. The complaint, lodged by local resident Digambar Pajgade, accused the group of illegally occupying two plots totaling approximately 135,000 square feet designated for open recreational space, and constructing a and under the Jawaharlal Darda Education Society in collusion with Wadgaon officials. Authorities alleged misuse of Rs 34.53 from Vijay Darda's MPLAD funds for the project, alongside Chavan's role in approving a revised layout plan that violated zoning norms during his tenure. The case stemmed from claims of procedural lapses in land allocation and approvals, with the FIR registered under relevant sections of the for , , and . No convictions have resulted from these proceedings as of 2024, and Chavan has denied wrongdoing, attributing the action to political motivations amid opposition scrutiny of Congress-led governance. Separate reports have referenced additional land-related probes from Chavan's time as Revenue Minister around 2000, involving alleged conspiracies to incorporate unauthorized parcels into revenue records, though these remain unresolved without formal charges advancing to trial.

References

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  2. https://v2.india.gov.in/directory/whos-who/ministers-details?mpno=2607&house=rajyasabha&p=rajya-sabha-members
  3. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-11715855
  4. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ashok-chavan-maharashtra-naned-congress-bjp-business-congress-adarsh-scam-washing-machine-2500933-2024-02-12
  5. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ashok-chavan-joins-bjp-ex-congress-cms-who-quit-party-to-join-bjp-2501402-2024-02-13
  6. https://www.oneindia.com/politicians/ashok-shankarrao-chavan-48820.html
  7. https://biotrusted.com/ashok-chavan/
  8. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/ashok-chavan-can-turn-things-wherever-he-goes-after-shock-exit-from-congress-2891137
  9. https://www.news18.com/news/politics/profile-ashok-chavan-in-fathers-footsteps-303378.html
  10. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ashok-chavan-was-a-towering-congress-leader-his-family-served-party-for-many-generations-ghulam-nabi-azad/article67845663.ece
  11. https://electionpandit.com/candidate/ashok_shankarrao_chavan
  12. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ashok-chavan-chequered-congressman/article67856899.ece
  13. https://www.business-standard.com/politics/as-ashok-chavan-heads-to-bjp-here-s-a-look-at-his-political-career-124021300635_1.html
  14. https://www.greaterkashmir.com/latest-news/former-maharashtra-cm-ashok-chavan-resigns-from-congress/
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