New Delhi, Jan 14:
Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday said he had resigned from the primary membership of the party.
In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said, ”Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the 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.” Speculation is rife in political circles over the past few days that he is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.Milind Deora on Saturday denied reports suggesting his departure from the party and a potential move to join Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
Despite publicly expressing displeasure over Shiv Sena (UBT)’s claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress leader stated these were just 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.
The son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, Milind secured victories in the Mumbai South seat during the elections of 2004 and 2009. However, in subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019, he finished as the first runner-up against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant.
For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has insisted on Sawant fighting from the seat as the I.N.D.I.A. bloc’s candidate.
