Nagpur: Lok Sabha MP from Yavatmal-Washim Sanjay Deshmukh on Sunday said Union home minister Amit Shah has assured full funds for his constituency while citing reasons for his switching allegiance to Eknath Shinde from the original Shiv Sena (UBT).Last month, six Lok Sabha MPs from UBT switched over to the Shinde faction, and their merger has now been approved by Lok Sabha Speaker. Deshmukh, who was in Nagpur on Sunday, said the opposition in Parliament has lost the trust of people, which is why the public is supporting the govt.When asked about the reason for joining the Shinde faction, and the truth behind consistent allegations of Rs50 crore being taken as a bribe, Deshmukh said he did it for his constituents.“Our people want development, there are so many pending projects. We met Amit Shah two days ago. He said whatever development work you have, we will definitely give full funds for it and complete that development work,” Deshmukh told reporters in Nagpur. “Ultimately every decision rests with the people. If we do not fulfil the expectations with which they elected us, it will not be good for us,” he said.Deshmukh said his decision to switch sides was taken after due process and was formally recognised. “We took this decision after obtaining complete information about the legal process. This decision by Lok Sabha Speaker to approve it was expected. We did everything properly, after speaking to people,” he said.On criticism by UBT that this merger with Shinde Sena is illegal, Deshmukh said, “The Opposition is playing the role of the Opposition. We took the decision after knowing the full process, and the honourable presiding officer has recognised it.”He claimed a wave of local office-bearers in Yavatmal and Washim are ready to follow him into Shinde Sena. “In these eight days, many people, municipal council presidents, corporators and several former MLAs, have been calling us. They say they want a meeting arranged with the party chief Eknath Shinde. Large numbers of people in Yavatmal and Washim districts are in touch,” he said.Deshmukh brushed aside allegations that MLAs and MPs were being lured or pressurised to switch parties. “These allegations are bound to come. The opposition has nothing else to say, so they will say this. We will do our work. We are contributing well to development in our district,” he said.On Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s charge that the decision amounted to the ‘rape and murder of democracy’, Deshmukh was dismissive. “He keeps making negative statements. I do not think it proper to speak about him,” he said.With the monsoon session opening on Monday, Deshmukh said the opposition lacked the strength to corner the govt. “See what upheaval has happened within two months. The opposition no longer has the strength to raise serious issues and influence people. The issues they should raise, they are not raising,” he said, claiming public sentiment was shifting towards the ruling side.
