South Mumbai Seat Sends Cong in a Tizzy, Deora Says ‘Can’ Declare Candidate If Parties Don’t Want to Wait

With Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray starting the Lok Sabha poll campaign from South Mumbai, unrest has been reported in the Congress camp, with former MP Milind Deora hinting at announcing a candidate after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance partner’s claim over the seat.

Though the INDIA bloc is still discussing seat sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena leaders have claimed to contest from South Mumbai. Milind Deora is learnt to be unhappy with this.

Deora has released a video message for his supporters and voters from South Mumbai that an MVA alliance partner is “making a one-sided claim over the Lok Sabha seat”. “I don’t want to create any controversy or get into a debate but the spokesperson of one of the parties, which is part of the MVA, asked us (Congress) to start from zero. Then, on Friday evening, the same party held a rally at South Mumbai’s Girgaon and claimed that seat. Certainly, you (supporters and party workers) were disappointed due to their claim. This seat is the traditional seat of the Congress, and for the last 50 years, the Deora family has contested this seat. Even though I am not an MP, Deora family is always there for the South Mumbai residents.”

He further criticised the Shiv Sena UBT, which is representing the seat in Lok Sabha, by saying, “We have won this seat with the help of the work which we have done for the people over 50 years. We have built relations with the people of this constituency,” Deora said.

Deora is of the opinion that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will not be easy for the MVA. Hence, he has asked his supporters and party workers not to make any claim till the alliance talks over the seat are finalised. Deora also sent a staunch message through a video to Shiv Sena UBT without taking its name. “If no party is ready to wait till the final talks are over, then the Congress can also make a claim on the seat (South Mumbai, in such a scenario and may announce the candidate,” Deora said.

Shiv Sena UBT leader Arvind Sawant has been winning the South Mumbai seat over the last two assembly elections by defeating Congress’ Milind Deora as both the parties were rivals until the formation of MVA in 2019.