'Murli Deora stood by Congress': Party jabs Milind Deora as he joins Shinde Sena
Milind Deora ended his “family’s 55-year relationship” with the Congress. The grand old party threw a jab at him, invoking his father and Congress veteran Murli Deora.
Minutes after Milind Deora announced his widely-anticipated resignation from the Congress earlier today, the party threw a jab at him, invoking his father and Congress veteran Murli Deora. “Murli Deora always stood by the Congress party, through thick and thin,” party’s Jairam Ramesh said, in a not-so-subtle swipe at Deora junior who joined rival Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, hours after exiting Congress.
Milind Deora, 47, ended his “family’s 55-year relationship” with the Congress in a big move today. The former union minister’s decision was triggered by his unhappiness over ally Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) staking claim to the coveted South Mumbai parliamentary constituency - a seat from where the Deoras have traditionally contested – in the recently-held seat-sharing talks within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
"Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Indian National Congress, 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," Milind Deora wrote on X.
The Congress lost no time in reminding Milind Deora of his father and former union minister Murli Deora’s lifelong commitment to the party.
Taking to X, Jairam Ramesh wrote, "I recall my long years of association with Murli with great fondness. He had close friends in all political parties, but was a stalwart Congressman who always stood by the Congress party — through thick and thin. Tathastu!"
Meanwhile, Congress' Mumbai unit expressed its dissatisfaction over the Deora family's relationship going back to over 50 years coming to a halt.
Taking to X, Mumbai Congress wrote, "The Deora family has always been a staunch Congress party supporter. Shri Murli Deora stood by the party through thick and thin and helped Congress get out of troubled times. It is very unfortunate that a relationship going back to around 50 years has come to a screeching halt.
In December, amid a major organisational reshuffle ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress appointed Deora as the Congress' joint Treasurer. Then Congress leader, Deora, thanked party president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary KC Venugopal and the Gandhi family, saying it was "encouraging to finally be recognised" for his strengths and talent.
Milind Deora quit the Congress a day after he had dismissed the speculation of him joining Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena as "rumours".
The Uddhav Thackeray-led group had staked a claim to contest the Mumbai South constituency, represented by Deora before 2014, in the upcoming general elections, which has not gone down well with the Congress leader.
Deora publicly expressed displeasure over Shiv Sena (UBT)'s claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency.
In a video statement, issued on January 7 (Sunday), Deora had said, “The South Mumbai seat is traditionally with the Congress. The Deora family has been serving the people of South Mumbai for 50 years. Regardless of we are MPs or not, we work for the people of the constituency."
He added: "We won the seat due to our work and relationships. I wish to tell all workers from South Mumbai that for the alliance with the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi), the Lok Sabha polls will not be easy. No one should make public statements and claims."