Is Ashok Chavan responsible for the poor share of Congress in seat sharing with allies? Some state Congress leaders think so, but ex-CM, who shifted to the BJP nearly two months ago, has blamed the party’s ‘loss’ on the leaders, who he said lacked diplomacy and research while negotiating with MVA partners. 

Following news reports on some television channels that, while speaking in private, some Congress leaders had accused Chavan of deliberately not demanding the Lok Sabha constituencies that the party had won and contested traditionally. “Chavan left the Congress after participating in primary talks with MVA allies, who kept in mind Chavan’s demand while negotiating further. Thus, we lost constituencies like Sangli, Bhiwandi and South Mumbai,” the anonymous Congress leader was quoted as saying in the news report.