Amin Patel dismisses reports of leaving Congress, calls them "false and baseless"

Amin Patel is a three-term member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Mumbadevi Constituency of Mumbai.

"My dear supporters and well-wishers. There are rumours circulating about my departure from the Congress Party. I want to clarify that these claims are false and baseless. I am firmly committed to the Congress Party. Thank you for your support today and always!" Patel posted on X.

Meanwhile, in a major setback for the Congress party ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday announced his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party asserting to work for the "constructive development of Maharashtra".

Calling it a "new beginning" in his political career, Ashok Chavan said, "Today it's a new beginning of my political career. I am formally joining the BJP in their office today. I am hopeful that we will work for the constructive development of Maharashtra."

He further said that he will be joining the BJP in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, party leader Ashish Shelar and Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

On being asked about MLAs and Congress legislators joining the BJP, he declined to comment saying that he is not aware of others.

According to sources, Ashok Chavan is likely to be BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Maharashtra putting Congress in a tight spot. Ashok Chavan resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party on Monday.

"I have resigned from the Assembly membership as an MLA. I have given my resignation to the Speaker. I have resigned from the Congress Working Committee and the Congress primary membership," Chavan told reporters after resigning from Congress on Monday.

He is the third big name to desert the Congress ship in Maharashtra. First to go was former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora, followed by former MLA Baba Siddique. (ANI)