In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Deora emphasised unity within his party and expressed a pragmatic approach toward local development in Worli, underscoring his commitment to healthcare, education, and economic progress.
Reflecting on the dynamics of cross-nominations and factionalism that have characterised this election, Deora assured that Worli remains cohesive, with the Mahayuti alliance standing firmly united. “In Worli, everyone is united, all the Mahayuti, NDA partners are united,” he asserted.
While he acknowledged that electoral politics inevitably attract multiple aspirants at state and regional levels, he emphasised that such competition is “but natural.” According to Deora, this unity is a vital asset for his campaign, allowing him to focus on the core issues that matter most to the people of Worli.
Deora’s switch from Congress to Shiv Sena has been a point of discussion, given the ideological shift it represents. Deora believes that the Congress party’s leftward shift on social and economic issues no longer aligns with his own views. “The Congress Party of 2024 and the Congress Party of 1947—there’s a huge difference,” he noted.
Deora, who held Congress stalwarts like Manmohan Singh in high regard for their centrist and reform-oriented approach, expressed disillusionment with what he sees as Congress’s growing opposition to economic reforms. He cited the party’s stance on the old pension scheme as a prime example, contrasting it with the reformist ethos he once admired. His alignment with the Shinde faction, he claims, stems from a desire to pursue pragmatic policies, especially those promoting investment and economic growth in Maharashtra.
Below are the excerpts of the interview.
Q: In Maharashtra, we have seen cross nominations and rebels….
Deora: There are always areas in every party and in every alliance, even in the opposition and in every election, where, especially as you go to state, to regional politics, you will find many aspirants. In a parliamentary election, you typically have one, maybe two aspirants from each party. In an assembly election, a local election, you’ll have three, four or five aspirants. That happens, that’s but natural, but I can assure you, in Worli, there is no such thing. In Worli, everyone is united. All the Mahayuti, NDA partners are united. In other areas where there is some rebel, we’ll know in a short while what happens.
Q: For the longest period of your career, you were associated with Congress, a party that claims that secularism is at the core of everything it does. Now you are with Shiv Sena, the Shinde Sena faction, a party that presents itself as a Hindutva-centric party. So why did you go for Shiv Sena when you decided to switch sides? Why Shiv Sena?
Deora: The Congress Party of 2024 and the Congress Party of 1947 there’s a huge difference. When parties move to an extreme position. This is what happens. I think Congress was a centrist party under people like Manmohan Singh, unfortunately, Congress has now become an extreme left party on social issues and on economic issues. The Congress Party was a party that brought the new pension scheme, which helped reduce the burden on future generations and made it more attractive for government pensioners to be able to invest in capital markets. Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated it, but it ultimately got implemented in 2004—the Congress didn’t scuttle that. Today, the Congress is opposing that. They’re saying, go back to the old pension scheme, which has resulted in the bankruptcy of a state like Himachal Pradesh. These kinds of views are not, in my opinion, the views of the Congress Party that I knew of.
A man like Manmohan Singh believed and still believes in liberalisation, still believes in economic reforms. Today, the Congress Party is sounding more like the communist to me economically than it sounds like the Congress of Manmohan Singh. What I believe in, whether it’s for Mumbai, whether it’s from Maharashtra, whether it’s for India, whether it’s socially, economically, politically, my views really haven’t changed. Eknath Shinde has given me a broad canvas through which I can work. He’s very clear what he wants me for. He wants me to help attract investments for the state.
Q: Two hospitals in Worli, Kamgar and Podar, they are not the way they used to be. They are not the center of treatment they once were known for being. And another thing is, there is a no reputed English medium school in Worli. Do you have any plans for these two aspects?
Deora: I’m very well aware of the issue of Podar Hospital, and this is something which is certainly on my agenda. Podar Hospital is an Ayurvedic hospital. It’s very important to refurbish it. The good thing is in the center, we have a minister who’s the Minister of Ayush, under which this comes. So we’ll work with the center, we will work with the state.
Ensuring that the people of Worli have access to good quality healthcare, have good quality education, whether it’s upgrading a municipal school to take it to the quality of English medium private school. Those are also things we can look at.
Aaditya Thackeray made a plan five years ago that he’ll make Worli A++, what’s happened to that plan? So you have to present a plan that says you’ll do your best. You’ll hear people. Anyone who promises a plan that says, I’ll do this to Podar Hospital and I’ll do that, is basically overpromising and then they underdeliver.