Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde hinted at further opposition inflow ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when he claimed on Sunday that the recruitment of former Union Minister and Congress leader Milind Deora into his party was only a trailer.
Speaking following Mr. Deora’s party announcement in front of many Shiv Sena leaders in Mumbai, Mr. Shinde said that he had completed a “operation” 1.5 years prior and that there was no need for sutures.
“I am not a doctor. Despite not being a doctor, I performed an operation one and half years before… didn’t even have to make stitches and the operation was done. I won’t say anything more than this… This is just a trailer, the film is yet to come in,” he said.
Mr. Shinde made comparisons between Milind Deora’s words on this particular occasion and his own feelings that he went through 1.5 years ago when he broke off his relationship with Uddhav Thackeray, the then chief minister of Maharashtra.
“The feelings that you (Milind Deora) have in your mind today are the same that I had 1.5 years back. Such situations arise when a decision has to be made,” Mr Shinde said.
After leaving the Congress earlier in the day, Milind Deora joined the Shiv Sena on Sunday in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The ruling party invited the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP to an afternoon ceremony at the chief minister’s official home, Varsha.
At the event, Mr. Deora commended Mr. Shinde’s vision for Mumbai and the state and reaffirmed his commitment to fortifying his leadership.
“I am joining him to strengthen his hands further. Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah also have a vision for the country. I want to strengthen their hands as well through the Shiv Sena,” Mr Deora said.
The 55-year connection between the Maharashtra leader and the party, which dates back to his father Murli Deora, came to an end.
Milind Deora emphasised his dedication to Congress and stated that he stuck with the party during its most difficult decade.
“I have been receiving a lot of phone calls since morning that why did I sever 55-year-old ties of my family with Congress party…I was loyal to the party during its most challenging decade. Unfortunately, today’s Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968 as well as that of 2004. Had Congress and UBT given importance to constructive and positive suggestions and merit and capability, Eknath Shinde and I wouldn’t have been here. Eknath Shinde had to make a major decision, I had to make a major decision,” he said.
