Sanjay Nirupam 'Returns Home' After 19 Years, Joins Shiv Sena After Being Expelled By Congress

Sanjay Nirupam along with his wife and daughter joined Shiv Sena, in the presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, in Mumbai.

Lok Sabha Elections: Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam along with his wife and daughter joined Shiv Sena, in the presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, in Mumbai on Friday. The former Congress leader returned to Shiv Sena after 19 years. The former Mumbai MP had left the undivided Shiv Sena, then led by Bal Thackeray.

Congress expelled Nirupam last month for six years for “indiscipline and anti-party statements” days after he gave a “one-week ultimatum” to the party over the Mumbai North-West seat which he was eyeing. As part of the seat-sharing agreement of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the seat is being contested by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).

Speaking after Nirupam's entry into the Shiv Sena, Chief Minister Shinde said that Bal Thackeray had sent him to the Rajya Sabha twice, and his work at the national level had enhanced the Sena's reputation. "Today, he has returned home," Shinde said. He further stated that Nirupam's entry will benefit the candidates of the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP alliance in the Mumbai-Thane region, and he will also work to rally the North Indian population behind the party, as reported by PTI.

Shinde welcomed Nirupam into his Sena faction at a function. Nirupam will work as Shiv Sena deputy leader and spokesperson, Shinde announced, PTI reported. Notably, the Shiv Sena has a number of `deputy leaders'.

Sanjay Nirupam's Political Journey

Nirupam, 59, began his political career as editor of `Dophar Ka Saamana', the Hindi mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena, in the 1990s, and became the party's North Indian face. He joined Congress in 2005 and was appointed general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. He won the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat in the 2009 elections, defeating BJP veteran Ram Naik. He held various positions in the Grand Old Party and also headed the city unit before falling out with the state Congress leadership.

After the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, Nirupam had opposed the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Congress, NCP and the undivided Shiv Sena headed by Uddhav Thackeray.