Sushil Kumar Shinde rejects multiple offers to join BJP

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde claimed on Friday that he has received several offers to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but has consistently rejected them.

Shinde made these remarks while responding to a controversy involving his grandson, Shikhar Pahariya, who displayed banners wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi a happy birthday. Shinde clarified that meeting the Prime Minister is not inherently wrong, but emphasized that political identity is defined by ideology and principles. He stated that when approached about joining the BJP, he questioned what he would gain from such a move and expressed his intention to remain with his current party.

Congress colleague Prithviraj Chavan commented on the claims, suggesting that such offers are sometimes made casually or even from high levels as part of a political organization's effort to expand its base. Shinde, 85, has previously served as both the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Union Home Minister.