Milind Deora joins Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena: Former Union minister Milind Deora Sunday joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena hours after announcing that he resigned from the basic membership of the Congress party
Mumbai: After quitting Congress, Milind Deora joins Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena
Former Union minister Milind Deora Sunday joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena hours after announcing that he resigned from the basic membership of the Congress party.
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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."
Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.
The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.
Milind Deora joins Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena: This is a very emotional day for me, says Deora
After joining Shiv Sena, Milind Deora said this is a very emotional day for me. "I had never thought that I would quit Congress. I left my 55 years of association with Congress to join the leadership of Eknath Shinde ji,” he said.
“Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is available for all. He is a person who is completely grounded...Modi ji and Amit Shah ji’s vision for the country is very big, and therefore I want to join them,” he added.
While emphasizing his commitment to Congress, Milind Deora said that he remained loyal to the party during its most challenging decade.
"I have been receiving a lot of phone calls since morning asking why I severed 55-year-old ties of my family with the Congress party. I was loyal to the party during its most challenging decade. Unfortunately, today's Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968 as well as that of 2004. Had Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) given importance to constructive and positive suggestions, Eknath Shinde and I wouldn't have been here. Eknath Shinde had to make a major decision, I had to make a major decision," Deora said.
Milind Deora explained why he decided the quit the Congress severing the ties of decades. Milind said the Congress his father joined was different from present-day Congress as their focus now is to only oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The former Congress leader said that he believes in the politics of GAIN - Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity, and Nationalism.
"The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country, on how to take the country forward, has now just one goal - speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it. I believe in the politics of GAIN - Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity, and Nationalism. I don't believe in the politics of PAIN - Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity," Deora said.
While hailing PM Modi, Milind Deora said that India is stronger today under PM Modi's leadership.
"A strong government is needed at the Centre and States in India. It is a matter of pride for all of us that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is stronger today. I would like to add that in the last 10 years not one terror attack has happened in Mumbai. This is a major achievement for Mumbaikars," he said.
Milind Deora joins Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena: Such situations arise when a decision has to be made, says CM Shinde
I welcome Milind Deora to Shiv Sena, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
While welcoming Milind Deora to Shiv Sena, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said that the feelings that Deora has in his mind, he said the same feelings a year-and-a-half ago.
"The feelings that you (Milind Deora) have in your mind today are the same that I had 1.5 years back. Such situations arise when a decision has to be made," CM Shinde said.
Earlier today, Milind Deora 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."
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.
The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.
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.