Mumbai

Congress leader Milind Deora on Sunday (Jan 14) announced his resignation from the Congress party, ending a 55-year association of the Deora family with the country's oldest political party. Later in the evening, Deora joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction, further giving a jolt to Congress. 

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Deora took to his social media handles to announce his departure, stating it was the conclusion of a "significant chapter" in his political journey. 

"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," said Deora on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

"I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he added.

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Milind's resignation marks another young leader deserting the Congress ship which has been tottering for some time. Prior to him, the likes of Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jaiveer Shergill, and Hardik Patel among others have already quit the party.

Milind, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, was forced to resign as the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena in the western state of Maharashtra staked claim on the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat - a traditional stronghold of the Deora family.

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Congress is now abusing industrialists: Deora

The 47-year-old Milind Deora, a former Union minister, slammed Congress left right and centre and targeted the Congress for abusing industrialists and businessmen.

“The same party that ushered in economic reforms 30 years ago, is now abusing industrialists, businessmen, and calling businessmen ‘anti-nationals’,” Deora said.

“It is sad that there is a lot of difference between the Congress my father joined in 1968 and the one I joined in 2004. Had the Congress and the UBT focussed on constructive issues and suggestions, and merit and ability, then Mr Shinde and I would not be here today,” he added.

Why did Milind Deora quit the party?

Mumbai South has been a stronghold of the Deoras, who have won the seat in 1984, 1989, 1991 and 1998. Currently, Uddhav faction's (UBT) Arvind Sawant is the MP from the constituency. However, Milind argued that even though he is not the sitting MP, the seat remains a traditional Congress bastion.

The UBT does not agree with Deora and refuses to vacate the seat for Congress. Speaking to the media, Sanjay Raut, a senior leader of the party said despite the row over the seat-sharing in the INDIA bloc, his party will not budge from the original formula. 

"We are speaking with the decision-makers, the central leadership -- not the state leadership. We told them that we always contested 23 seats. Congress has to start with zero in Maharashtra. Neither we have a problem, nor Congress's central leadership has a problem. Rest it does not matter who said what," said Raut.

After Raut's statement, Milind retorted saying Congress was the largest opposition party in the Maharashtra Assembly. 

"According to Sanjay Raut, even after losing 40 MLAs (to the Shinde group), Uddhav Sena is the largest party in Maharashtra. I want to tell him that no alliance can proceed without the consultation of the local leadership," said Milind. 

After his resignation, speculations were rife that Deora might follow other ex-Congress leaders and join the BJP. However, he preferred Shiv Sena which is an ally of the saffron party. 

(With inputs from agencies)