Milind Deora joins Shinde Sena, takes aim at former party Cong: ‘Only intention is to oppose everything’

Deora who joined the Sena at an event held at the CM’s official residence here said, “I believe in the politics of GAIN, which is growth, aspiration, inclusivity and nationalism, and not in the politics of PAIN, or personal attacks, injustice and negativity.”

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…

— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा ☮️ (@milinddeora) January 14, 2024

He said, “Eknath Shinde is a grounded and accessible leader. He is well aware of the problems and aspirations of the people of Maharashtra. He has a vision for Mumbai and Maharashtra. I am joining him to strengthen his hands further. PM Modi and Amit Shah also have a vision for the country. I want to strengthen their hands as well through the Shiv Sena.”

About his former party, Deora said, “I was with the Congress in its most challenging times. There is however a world of difference in the Congress that I had joined and what it has become now. The party which 30 years back ushered in economic reforms is abusing industrialists and businessmen, calling them anti-nationals. The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions on how to take the country forward these days its only intention is to oppose everything that Prime Minister Modi does or says. Tomorrow, if the PM says that the Congress is good, they will oppose that too.”

Earlier in the day, announcing his decision to sever ties with the Congress, Deora posted on X, “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.”

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Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh told The Indian Express that Deora was worried about losing his Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat — which he has contested the last four parliamentary elections and represented from 2004 to 2014 — to the Shiv Sena (UBT) of Uddhav Thackeray as part of a seat-sharing agreement in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Deora lost the last two elections from the seat to Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant, one of the few Sena parliamentarians still with Uddhav. Deora was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 with a 50.3% of the vote share. In 2009, he won with 42.5% votes. His vote shares were 31.6% and 41% in the 2014 and 2019 polls, respectively. In comparison, Sawant had a 53.6% vote share in 2014 and 48% five years later.

Deora is said to have been unhappy with Uddhav and his son Aaditya for kickstarting the poll campaign in the city from Mumbai South on January 5 and claiming that Sawant would be fielded again.

Ramesh, meanwhile, said Deora wanted him to intervene and put in a word with senior leader Rahul Gandhi. “He spoke to me on Friday. He wanted me to explain to Rahul Gandhi that his seat was going. He said he was concerned. He messaged me at 2.48 pm. I spoke to him at 3.40 pm. I told him to meet Rahul and explain,” Ramesh said.

The Congress leader alleged that the BJP orchestrated the resignation to divert media attention from the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. “This whole thing is a farce he enacted. The whole timing was planned by (PM Narendra) Modi to dampen the headlines on the yatra. We didn’t feel his (Deora’s) presence. We won’t feel his loss either, unlike his father (Murli Deora),” Ramesh said.

When he entered Parliament in 2004, Deora was one of the youngest parliamentarians and part of a group of young leaders who were considered to be close to Rahul. Jyotiraditya Scindia, R P N Singh, Jitin Prasada, and Sachin Pilot were among the others in the group. In recent years, all of them, except Sachin Pilot, have quit the party.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said there would be no compromise on the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. “Sawant is a two-time MP. What is wrong with him contesting again? There will be no compromise on this. We knew Murli Deora well and what it is to work for the party and sacrifice for it. If people change loyalties to contest elections, it shows a new trend has started in the state.”

Former CM and Congress Working Committee member Ashok Chavan said the understanding within the MVA alliance was to not disturb the sitting MP.

Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant, the Lok Sabha MP from Kalyan, is said to have played a key role in Deora’s switch to the Sena, according to insiders. “Shinde sir wants people who can work for the development of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Both he and Shrikant Shinde have this belief in me that as an MP I will be able to represent the vision that the CM has for Mumbai and Maharashtra. I am thankful for the faith they have bestowed on me.”

Welcoming Deora to the party, Shinde said, “You and Shrikant have decided on this. We will work together. We need to do constructive work together and we will do it.”

BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergil, who quit the Congress to join the ruling party in August 2022, said the Congress “todo yatra” had started. “First, Assam’s general secretary (Apurba Bhattacharjee) resigned (from the Congress), and now Milind Deora has too. Rahul Gandhi has to answer regarding the injustice he has done to the party and its leaders,” he said.