Sushilkumar Shinde says he will stay in Congress, dismisses talk of joining BJP

Political activity in the state has been intense of late. For the past few days there had been talk that senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde was about to join the BJP. Shinde has now spoken on the matter himself and said he will stay in Congress.

The talk began when Shinde's grandson, Shikhar Pahariya, put up banners wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday. Speculation about a BJP entry then grew. Backing his grandson's move, Shinde set out his stand on politics and personal relationships. He put an end to the speculation by saying, "I will remain in Congress."

Shinde asked what had gone so wrong if Shikhar Pahariya put up a banner wishing Modi on his birthday. He said he had himself met the Prime Minister recently. He said that wishing a leader well or meeting one does not change a person's political ideology. The message of his statement is also that, in politics, matters should be viewed with understanding rather than reading a different meaning into everything.

Shinde also disclosed that he has been asked several times to join the BJP. But he made it clear that he is in Congress and will work there.

He said he has also seen the fate of some leaders who have recently gone to the BJP. According to Shinde, many leaders had left the party around 25 years ago too, and some of them returned after a few years.

Shinde said Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to Sharad Pawar as much as he speaks to him. His stand was that meetings between leaders, or their attending an event, should not immediately be given a different meaning.

He said some good things come from Modi, while some decisions also draw criticism. According to Shinde, journalists should analyse all this.

Shinde also said he has read a book of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and has also learnt about the history of the Communist Party. As a student of political science, he finds it necessary to understand different ideologies. Overall, using the discussion that began with his grandson's banner, Shinde has made clear his role in Congress and his view of other parties.