Milind Deora
| Photograph Credit score: Prashant Nakwe.
The continuing rift between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and their ally, the Congress, over the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency has sparked intense hypothesis over Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora, the ex-MP of Mumbai South, defecting to the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena at the same time as Mr. Deora rebuffed such ‘rumours’ on Saturday.
Whereas Mr. Deora, who had represented the Mumbai South Lok Sabha twice in 2004 and 2009, dismissed hypothesis of his imminent exit from the Congress, he nonetheless informed reporters on Saturday that he was holding discussions along with his supporters.
“I’m listening to my supporters. I’ve not taken any determination but,” the Congress chief, and son of late Union Minister Murli Deora, stated.
The tiff between Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena (UBT) and the Congress over proposed seat-sharing reached a crescendo when Sena (UBT) chief Sanjay Raut not too long ago stated his social gathering was agency on contesting 23 (of a complete 48) Lok Sabha seats within the State – 4 of them in Mumbai metropolis and two in Thane. This drew sharp criticism from Congress leaders like Mr. Deora and Sanjay Nirupam who stated the Sena (UBT)’s calls for had been extreme provided that their vote-base had fragmented following the break up of their ranks.
Amid the tussle, the Mumbai South seat has come into focus as it’s at present held by Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, one of many few Uddhav Thackeray loyalists.
The seat had been held by the late Mr. Murli Deora at the very least 4 instances up to now, and has been a Congress stronghold in Mumbai for a number of years.
In the meantime, Eknath Shinde-led Sena faction Minister Uday Samant stepped into the fray, remarking that the Shinde-led Sena would welcome a pacesetter of Milind Deora’s capabilities if he wished to enter the ruling social gathering.
“CM Eknath Shinde is working day and evening for public weal. And if he will get the help of a pacesetter like Milind Deora help, then the Shiv Sena can increase in Mumbai in an enormous approach. He’s welcome to affix us by conserving Bal Thackeray’s beliefs in entrance of him,” Mr. Samant stated.
Nonetheless, Maharashtra Chief of Opposition and Congressman Vijay Wadettiwar dubbed rumours of Mr. Deora’s potential defection as “baseless” and a ploy to defame the MVA and spark divisions inside it.
“Such rumours are baseless. It’s all a ploy to defame the MVA. Our coalition is standing sturdy,” Mr. Wadettiwar stated.
