New Delhi: Congress leader Priya Dutt is likely to join Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena after leaving the Congress. Priya Dutt is the daughter of late actor and Congress leader Sunil Dutt and the sister of actor Sanjay Dutt.
Dutt could potentially align herself with leaders like Ashok Chavan, Baba Siddiqui, and Milind Deora, who have also parted ways with the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Shiv Sena May Nominate Priya Dutt From North Central Constituency
Priya Dutt has been a Congress Member of Parliament from the Mumbai North Central constituency since 2009. She lost to Poonam Mahajan in both 2014 and 2019. According to Shiv Sena sources, she will not only join the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena but the party may also field her as a candidate from the North Central constituency. However, Priya Dutt has been inactive for the past five years.
Priya Dutt Declined To Comment
Over the past five years, she has been minimally involved in Congress activities. According to sources, Baba Siddique, affiliated with the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) led by Ajit Pawar, is currently working to forge an alliance with Priya Dutt. However, Priya Dutt declined to comment during a recent phone conversation.
The bugle for the Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections has already been sounded. The BJP, Shiv Sena, and the alliance led by Ajit Pawar are all gearing up for the electoral battle. While the BJP has announced candidates for 20 seats, both Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar faction are yet to announce their candidates.
Ramdas Athawale's party is also part of this alliance. Athawale has expressed a desire to field candidates in two seats in Maharashtra. However, he has also clarified that even if his party does not secure the desired number of seats within the NDA, they will remain allied with the NDA without any political intentions to leave.