Mumbai: Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan's departure from the Congress party on Monday, followed by his joining of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, has stirred reactions from NCP leader Baba Siddique, who sees it as a wake-up call for the grand old party.

Siddique expressed his response, stating, "Ashok Chavan called me, and I conveyed that we will discuss our future plans soon. More departures may occur because when individuals feel stifled, they seek alternatives. This development should serve as a wake-up call for the Congress, although I doubt they will respond."

Taking a dig at the Congress, Siddique remarked, "They are living in a fantasy world, detached from reality. They fail to heed the signs. It's regrettable that a party established in 1885 is witnessing such departures. There must be underlying reasons for these defections."

Regarding the reasons behind leaders leaving the Congress, Siddique attributed it to decisions made by the party's high command. He stated, "In my view, these departures are not due to specific leaders but are a result of collective decisions made by the high command. Non-elected individuals dictate the party's course, including those who have never contested elections."

Ashok Chavan's exit marks the third prominent figure to leave the Congress in Maharashtra. Previously, former South Mumbai MP Milind Deora joined the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Last week, Baba Siddique himself resigned from the Congress after 48 years of association.

Chavan previously held positions as the Vice President and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress Committee from 1986 to 1995. He also served three terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1999 to May 2014. Additionally, he served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from December 8, 2008, to November 9, 2010, before being asked to resign by the Congress Party amid corruption allegations related to the Adarsh Housing Society scam.

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