Milind Deora resigns from Congress: ‘Ending my family’s 55-year relationship’

Milind Deora on Sunday announced his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending his family’s 55-year relationship with the party.
“Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family’s 55-year relationship with the party…,” Milind Deora, the son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, wrote on social media X.
“I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years,” Deora added.
His resignation comes amid speculation that the former Union minister would join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. Deora, however, on Saturday dismissed the speculation as “rumours”.
Deora, who recently made his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency public, had told reporters that he was holding discussions with his supporters.
“I am listening to my supporters…Haven’t taken a decision yet,” the former Mumbai South MP said when asked if he was chalking out a plan with his supporters.
Deora said these are rumours, while responding to a question on reports in some sections of the media that he was quitting the Congress to join the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction had staked a claim to contest the Mumbai South constituency, represented by Deora before 2014, in the upcoming general elections, which seemed to have not gone down well with the Congress leader.
In a video statement issued last Sunday, Deora said that if such statements by an “alliance partner” don’t stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) is an alliance partner of the Congress and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. Deora had said since the formal talks on sharing of seats were yet to be concluded, nobody should make claims and counter-claims.
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. Deora had said his family represented the seat for 50 years and wasn’t elected on any “wave”.