In a major setback for the Congress party ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party after resigning from the grand old party, according to his office.

Ashok Chavan resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party on Monday.

As per the sources, some MLAs and office bearers of the Congress party in the state are also likely to follow suit.

Chavan submitted his resignation to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole.