Ashok Chavan
Encyclopedia
Ashok Shankarrao Chavan (born 28 October 1958 (age 53)) was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Chavan was sworn in on 8 December 2008, after his political party, the Indian National Congress
and Vilasrao Deshmukh
selected him to be Vilasrao Deshmukh
's successor on 5 December 2008. He earlier served as Minister for Cultural Affairs, Industries, Mines and Protocol in Vilasrao Deshmukh
government. Chavan is son of former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shankarrao Chavan
and they are the first father–son duo in the state's history to become chief ministers.
Chavan was asked to resign as Chief Minister during a meeting with Congress president, Sonia Gandhi
, after it emerged that three of his relatives were house-owners of a government housing society in upmarket Colaba
.
Pradesh Congress Committee
. In 1987–88, he was elected as Member of Parliament from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency
. In 1992, he was elected as M.L.C to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly 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, Chavan became Minister for Industries, Mining, Cultural Affairs & Protocol. He was the General Secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1995 to 1999. He is the President of Sai Sevabhavi Trust Nanded, a charitable voluntary organisation.
Sharad Pawar
, the regional satrap, had been lukewarm towards Chavan, after his first choice of union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was ignored well before the race began. Congress had clearly plumped for a Maratha
to lead the party in the state, and had ignored the NCP view that it go for a non-Maratha to set right the social combination.
As a result, NCP chose a non-Maratha, Chhagan Bhujbal
to man the deputy CM'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.
On 20 February 2009, Narayan Rane
was inducted into the cabinet and was made the Minister of Industry
.
After winning assembly elections in 2009, Congress President Sonia Gandhi
named Ashok Chavan as next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Adarsh Housing Society Scam
On March 14, 2011 Defence Minister A. K. Antony
told Parliament
that Ashok Chavan is one of the 13 people named by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Adarsh Housing Society Scam.
Chavan was accused of nepotism
when he gave two flats in the Adarsh Housing society in Colaba to some of his close relatives, the society was originally meant for war widows. Chavan was summoned to Delhi where he offered to resign before party chief Sonia Gandhi. He was asked to tender his resignation to Governor K Sankaranarayanan, pending an inquiry into the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam in Mumbai
. His successor as chief minister of Maharashtra is Prithviraj Chavan
.
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh , popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences....
selected him to be Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh , popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences....
's successor on 5 December 2008. He earlier served as Minister for Cultural Affairs, Industries, Mines and Protocol in Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh , popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences....
government. Chavan is son of former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shankarrao Chavan
Shankarrao Chavan
Shankarrao Bhavrao Chavan was an Indian politician who served twice as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1975 until 1977 and from 13 March 1986 until 24 June 1988...
and they are the first father–son duo in the state's history to become chief ministers.
Chavan was asked to resign as Chief Minister during a meeting with Congress president, Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
, after it emerged that three of his relatives were house-owners of a government housing society in upmarket Colaba
Colaba
Colaba is a part of the city of Mumbai, India, and also a Lok Sabha constituency. During Portuguese rule in the 16th century, the island was known as Candil...
.
Political career
He graduated in Science and has obtained his Master's in Business Management. He started his political career as General Secretary, MaharashtraMaharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
Pradesh Congress Committee
Pradesh Congress Committee
The elected committee that directs the Congress Party in an Indian state is known as a PCC, or Pradesh Congress Committee. It is elected by card-holding members of the Congress, the world's largest political organisation, and in turn elects State Congress Presidents and delegates to the All India...
. In 1987–88, he was elected as Member of Parliament from Nanded Lok Sabha constituency
Nanded (Lok Sabha constituency)
Nanded Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra state in western India.-Assembly segments:...
. In 1992, he was elected as M.L.C to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and later joined as Minister of State for Public works, Urban Development and Home in March 1993. In 2003, Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh , popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences....
appointed Chavan as Minister for Transport, Ports, Cultural Affairs and Protocol. In November 2004, Chavan became Minister for Industries, Mining, Cultural Affairs & Protocol. He was the General Secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1995 to 1999. He is the President of Sai Sevabhavi Trust Nanded, a charitable voluntary organisation.
Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar
Sharadchandra Govindrao Pawar , popularly known as SAHEB , is the president of the Nationalist Congress Party which he founded in 1999, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
, the regional satrap, had been lukewarm towards Chavan, after his first choice of union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was ignored well before the race began. Congress had clearly plumped for a Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
to lead the party in the state, and had ignored the NCP view that it go for a non-Maratha to set right the social combination.
As a result, NCP chose a non-Maratha, Chhagan Bhujbal
Chhagan Bhujbal
Chhagan Bhujbal is a politician from the state of Maharashtra, India. At present he is Minister of Public Works & Special Assistance Department, Maharashtra State and Guardian Minister, Nashik District; Member of Legislative Assembly, Yeola Assembly ; Constituency...
to man the deputy CM'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.
On 20 February 2009, Narayan Rane
Narayan Rane
Narayan Rane is an Indian politician. He is currently the Minister for Industry, Port, Employment and Self-employment in the Government of Maharashtra. He was a member of Shiv Sena until July 2005, then he joined Indian National Congress party....
was inducted into the cabinet and was made the Minister of Industry
Minister of Industry
The industry minister is a cabinet position in a government.The title may refer to the head of the governmental department that specializes in industry. This position may also be responsible for trade and employment, areas that fall under the ministries of commerce and labour in some governments...
.
After winning assembly elections in 2009, Congress President Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
named Ashok Chavan as next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Adarsh Housing Society ScamAdarsh Housing Society ScamThe Adarsh Housing Society is a cooperative society in the city of Mumbai in India. It was reserved for the war widows and veterans of the Kargil War.-Corruption allegations:...
On March 14, 2011 Defence Minister A. K. AntonyA. K. Antony
Arackaparambil Kurien Antony is an Indian National Congress politician, a former Chief Minister of Kerala, and the current Defence Minister of India....
told Parliament
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
that Ashok Chavan is one of the 13 people named by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Adarsh Housing Society Scam.
Chavan was accused of nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
when he gave two flats in the Adarsh Housing society in Colaba to some of his close relatives, the society was originally meant for war widows. Chavan was summoned to Delhi where he offered to resign before party chief Sonia Gandhi. He was asked to tender his resignation to Governor K Sankaranarayanan, pending an inquiry into the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. His successor as chief minister of Maharashtra is Prithviraj Chavan
Prithviraj Chavan
Prithviraj Chavan is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The Indian National Congress selected him to be the successor of Ashok Chavan. He is a Member of the Parliament of India representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament...
.
External links
- Biodata
- Adarsh scam: Maharashtra CM Chavan quits ( CNN-IBN )