Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday said he had resigned from the primary membership of the party, to join Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Deora blamed Congress’ deviation from its ‘ideological and organizational roots, lacking appreciation for honesty and constructive criticism,’ hours after he made the move.
Congress’ communication chief Jairam Ramesh had told Indian Express that Deora ‘remained skeptical about the South Bombay Lok Sabha seat.’
‘He spoke to me on Friday. He wanted me to explain to Rahul Gandhi that his seat was going. He said he is concerned. He messaged me at 2.48 pm. I spoke to him at 3.40 pm. I told him to meet Rahul(Gandhi) and explain,’ Indian Express quoted Ramesh as saying.
As the Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction are now opposition INDIA bloc allies, the South Bombay seat was likely to be allotted to Shiv Sena (UBT) during seat-sharing talks.
Deora lost Mumbai South to the Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant in 2014 and 2019.
Deora raised eyebrows when he abruptly quit as Mumbai Congress president in the middle of the Lok Sabha campaign in 2019, which many felt was to focus on winning back his constituency.
Sawant stayed with Uddhav Thackeray, even as Eknath Shinde led a rebellion, eventually dividing the Shiv Sena into the two current factions.
Reports reveal that former CM Uddhav Thackeray is said to have pushed for the Mumbai South constituency to remain with his Shiv Sena faction.
In a recently released video Deora was seen advising his supporters and workers to remain calm and asked the Sena not to stake a claim on any Lok Sabha constituency unless it is finalized in the seat-sharing talks.
However, it still remains unclear if Deora will be granted the Mumbai South constituency by the Shiv Sena.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that ‘there would be no compromise’ when it comes to the Lok Sabha seat.
Raut told PTI, ‘Sawant is a two-time MP. What is wrong with him contesting again? There will be no compromise on this.’
When asked about Deora’s exit, Raut said, ‘We knew Murli Deora well and what it is to work for the party and sacrifice for it. If people change localities to contest elections, it shows a new trend has started in the state.’
Deora’s father, Murli Deora was elected mayor of Bombay in 1977, with the support of Shiv Sena. He first contested the Lok Sabha polls from Bombay South constituency in 1980 but lost to the Janata Party’s Ratansingh Rajda.
Deora defeated BJP’s Jayawantiben Mehta by a huge margin in the next election and was re-elected in 1989, 1991 but lost to Mehta in 1996 and 1999.
Milind Deora defeated Jayawantiben Mehta from the same constituency in 2004 and won Mumbai South seat again, five years later.
Stay updated with all the insights.
Navigate news, 1 email day.
Subscribe to Qrius
