The former Minister Baburao Chavan, who quit the BJP and joined the Congress in the presence of party veteran M. Mallikarjun Kharge at the party office here on Wednesday, said suffocating environment and “casteism” in the saffron party forced him to quit the party.

“Some people in the BJP had attacked Revu Naik Belamagi when he was in the party. Some party workers had attacked Koli [Kabbaliga] community leaders. Even after receiving a report on the incidents, the BJP leadership did not take any action against the perpetrators. Upset by such incidents, I quit the party,” he said.

To a question, Mr. Chavan said he returned to the Congress as he was impressed by Mr. Kharge’s development works such as special status accorded to Hyderabad Karnataka region under Article 371(J).

“I had quit the Congress as I was misled and provoked by some people. Now, I have unconditionally returned to the party. I will work in the party as an ordinary worker and handle any responsibility that the party entrust on me. I am feeling happy as I returned home after a long migration,” he said.