Mumbai: Milind Deora resigns from primary membership of Congress party

Milind Deora. File Pic/X

Senior Congress leader Milind Deora resigned from the primary membership of Congress party on Sunday (January 14).

After Milind Deora resigned, he further said that he was grateful to all leaders and party workers for their unwavering support.

"Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party," Milind Deora said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he further said.

According to sources, Milind Deora, along with few former corporators and 450 supporters, will join Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday at around 2 pm.

However, Deora on Saturday dismissed speculations of him joining Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Deora, who recently made his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency public, however, told reporters that he is holding discussions with his supporters.

"I am listening to my supporters...Haven't taken a decision yet," the former Mumbai South MP said.

These are rumours, he said while responding to a query on reports in some sections of the media that he was quitting the Congress to join the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

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.

In a video statement issued earlier, 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.

Deora had said since the formal talks on sharing of seats are yet to be concluded, nobody should make claims and counter-claims.

Deora had said his family represented the seat for 55 years and wasn't elected on any "wave".

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