Milind Deora dismisses speculation about quitting Congress to join Maharashtra CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena

Milind Deora. File Pic/X

Milind Deora on Saturday dismissed as "rumours" the speculation that he was quitting Congress and would join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, reported the PTI

Milind Deora, who recently made his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency public, however, told reporters that he is holding discussions with his supporters.

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"I am listening to my supporters...Haven't taken a decision yet," the former Mumbai South MP said when asked if he was chalking out a plan with his supporters, the news agency reported.

These are rumours, Milind Deora said while responding to a query on reports in some sections of the media that he was quitting the Congress to join the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led group had staked a claim to contest the Mumbai South constituency, represented by Deora before 2014, in the upcoming general elections, which has not gone down well with the Congress leader.

In a video statement issued last Sunday, Deora said that if such statements by an ¿alliance partner¿ don't stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats, the PTI reported.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) is an alliance partner of the Congress and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Milind Deora had said since the formal talks on sharing of seats are yet to be concluded, nobody should make claims and counter-claims.

Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He ended up as the first runner-up in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant.

Milind Deora had said his family represented the seat for 50 years and wasn't elected on any "wave".

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday asserted that there was no dispute among the INDIA bloc members over appointing its convenor, reported the PTI.

Sharad Pawar said that there was no need to project any face for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as the leader can be chosen once the results are declared, as per the PTI.

(with PTI inputs)