Milind Deora quits Congress: No compromise on South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, says Sanjay Raut

Sanjay Raut. File Pic

Against the backdrop of former Union minister Milind Deora quitting the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said there would be no compromise on the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, reported news agency PTI.

Milind Deora had recently expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.

The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora from the constituency in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.

Milind Deora quits Congress: There will be no compromise, says Sanjay Raut

"Sawant is a two-time MP. What is wrong with him contesting again? There will be no compromise on this," Sanjay Raut asserted.

Queried on Deora quitting the Congress, Sanjay Raut said, "We knew Murli Deora well and what it is to work for the party and sacrifice for it. If people change loyalties rpt loyalties to contest elections, it shows a new trend has started in the state."

Milind Deora was also the head of the Mumbai Congress at one time. He is the son of party stalwart late Murli Deora.

Milind Deora quits Congress: Ashok Chavan says Deora could have got some other opportunity

Former chief minister and Congress Working Committee member Ashok Chavan said Deora wanted to contest from South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat but the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) alliance's understanding what that the sitting MP must not be disturbed, reported PTI.

"He could have got some other opportunity. But to quit is his call," Chavan told PTI.

Milind Deora quits Congress: Varsha Gaikwad asks him to reconsider

In a video statement, Varsha Gaikwad urged the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP to reconsider his decision saying his family and the Congress family were one, reported PTI.

"It is unfortunate Deora chose to quit on a day when the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra starts from Manipur. I urge him to reconsider his decision. The Congress has always stood by him," she said.

"The Congress party and I are extremely sad at the development. The AICC in charge and I tried to hold a dialogue with Milind Deora (to impress upon him) that we are family and have to be together," said Varsha Gaikwad, an MLA from Mumbai's Dharavi area.