MUMBAI: Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and senior Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde announced his retirement from electoral politics ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The former chief minister also wished for his daughter, Praniti Shinde, to contest the Lok Sabha elections from his erstwhile seat of Solapur.
Speaking to ANI, Sushil Kumar Shinde said, “The decision was taken years ago. There is nothing new in this. I have taken retirement, but I will be available for party work whenever needed.”
“Now it is my wish that my daughter Praniti Shinde contest elections from Solapur. I have conveyed this to my party. However, at the end, it is up to the AICC, the party high command in Delhi, to decide who will contest the elections. Everyone expresses their wish to contest elections from a particular seat,” the veteran politician added.
Shinde, a three-term MP from the Solapur Lok Sabha seat, was Maharashtra chief minister for a short period during January 2003 and November 2004. Later, he was also appointed as Andhra Pradesh governor and continued in the post until 2006.
He was the Minister of Home Affairs, and Minister of Power in the Manmohan Singh government, and the Leader of the House in Lok Sabha until 26 May 2014.
He started his career as a bailiff and later joined the Maharashtra Police as a constable. He then went on to serve in the Maharashtra CID for six years, as a sub-inspector of police.
In 2002, Shinde lost the election for the post of Vice-President of India contesting against NDA candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
In 2009 Shinde was elected to the Lok Sabha from Solapur. Shinde contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Solapur and lost to BJPs Sharad Bansode. He again contested from the same seat in 2019 and was defeated by BJP’s Siddheshwar Maharaj.
His daughter Praniti Shinde, is a three-time MLA from Maharashtra’s Solapur City Central constituency. She is also Working President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee since 2021. (ANI)