Former South Mumbai MP and Congress leader Milind Deora is likely to join Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena on Sunday evening. Deora, who resigned from the primary membership of the party on Sunday, is reportedly taking along a chunk of leaders, including trade union heads and former municipal corporators to join Sena.
Deora, who announced his resignation from the Congress party through social media platform X was reportedly disgruntled over Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena staking claim for Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. United Shiv Sena won the seat in the 2014-2019 Lok Sabha elections. Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He ended up as the first runner-up in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant.
According to sources in the know of developments, along with Deora, 10 former municipal corporators, 25 senior party functionaries, 20 top trader and merchant unions heads and about 400 party workers will be joining the Shiv Sena under his leadership at Varsha, the official residence of CM today.
According to sources, Deora will pay respects at Balasaheb Thackeray Statue, Regal Cinema at 12 noon and leave for Varsha bungalow at 1.30pm. Senior ministers and leaders are expected to be present along with Shinde during Deora’s induction into the Shinde-led Sena.
"I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," Deora tweeted announcing his resignation from the party.
