Senior Congress Leader Milind Deora Resigns, Joins Shiv Sena Led by Shinde
Mumbai: Milind Deora, a senior Congress leader and former Union minister, announced his resignation from the primary membership of the party on Sunday. Ending a family’s 55-year relationship with the Congress, Deora made the announcement on social media platform X.
In his post on X, Deora expressed gratitude to his supporters and colleagues, stating, Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my family’s 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & Karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years.
Deora, who had served as a Union minister in the Congress-led government from 2012 to 2014, is the son of Congress veteran leader Murli Deora. He was also the former president of the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee.
Speculations of Deora joining the Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, had been circulating in recent days. According to sources, Deora, accompanied by 10 former corporators, 20 office bearers of the Congress from South Mumbai, and representatives from key business organizations, is set to join the Shiv Sena. The joining ceremony is expected to take place today in the presence of CM Shinde.
Deora’s decision comes in light of the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray staking a claim on the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat for the 2024 polls as part of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Sharad Pawar. The South Mumbai seat was previously held by Deora in 2004 and 2009 but was lost to Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena in 2014 and 2019.
Expressing disapproval of the move, Deora, who was recently appointed as the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had criticized the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s claim on the seat in partnership with the Congress-led INDIA bloc.
While Deora had not confirmed his resignation until Sunday, he had mentioned being in talks with his supporters. Uday Samant, a Shiv Sena leader, had acknowledged that Deora’s inclusion in the party would help expand its base in Mumbai.
Balasaheb Thorat, a senior Congress leader and former minister, described Deora’s decision as unfortunate. Thorat expressed disappointment with the timing of the resignation, which coincided with the launch of the Bharat Jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi.
Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad made an appeal to Deora to reconsider his decision, emphasizing the importance of unity within the party and the standing of the Deora family. She called the timing of the resignation on the day of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodi Nyay Yatra launch as unfortunate and painful.
In response to Deora’s resignation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a dig at Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that he should prioritize justice within his own party before embarking on the ‘nyay yatra’.
The resignation of Milind Deora and his subsequent association with the Shiv Sena highlights the shifting dynamics within Maharashtra politics. As one chapter ends for Deora and a new one begins, the impact of his decision on the political landscape remains to be seen.
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