Milind Deora, who resigned from the Congress ending 50 years of relationship with Congress and joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena today, said he wouldn’t have quit the party had its leadership given importance to his “constructive” and positive suggestions, merit and capabilities. In his first reaction after joining the dominant Sena faction, Deora accused the Congress party of indulging in the politics of what he called “PAIN — personal attacks, injustice and negativity”.
Milind Deora and the Deora family legacy as a “Congressi”
The Deora family holds significant prominence in Maharashtra politics. Milind Deora, a two-time Member of Parliament from the Congress, follows in the footsteps of his father, Murli Deora, a former cabinet minister in the Congress government and a four-time Member of Parliament from the South Mumbai seat. For four decades, the Deora family has been actively contesting elections from the South Bombay seat. 
Milind was disappointed with the congress as the party didn’t strongly keep its opinion to Udhav Thakrey, He said news agency ANI. “This is a very emotional day for me. I had never thought that I would quit Congress. Today, I joined Shiv Sena.”
He was considered very close to Rahul Gandhi. He stated that despite not holding any position for the past 10 years, he has remained loyal to the party.
Disappointment with the party
Congress has given him various positions after all of this his resignation raises many questions. According to former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, Deora was upset over Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thakrey insisting on contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the South Mumbai seat.
He lost the election in 2014 and 2019 for the Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, being defeated both times by the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition candidate Arvind Sawant. In the upcoming 2024 polls, Congress is part of the INDIA alliance with Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray. Uddhav is not willing to relinquish the South Bombay seat. 
This seat has been the dynastic stronghold for the Deora family; Mr. Milind himself, as well as his father, has been a Member of Parliament from this constituency. Therefore, this seat holds immense significance for him. With Congress, it seemed impossible for him to secure the seat. Consequently, he opted for a different path by aligning with the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, which is working in alliance with the BJP.
Milind Deora claimed, “Today’s Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968”, as he and his family had 55 years of relationship with the Congress.
Eknath Shinde responded to the claims that he would join his party, he said “I have heard about his move. If he is joining the party, I will welcome him.”
How will Congress Cope with this loss ahead of polls?
His resignation comes on the day when Rahul Gandhi is set to start his “Bharat Jodo Yatra” from Manipur.
Rahul Gandhi’s young leaders are leaving the party one after another, this is shaking the basic structure of the party.
After Jitin Prasad and Jyotiraditya Scindia, this is the third major exit of the young leaders of the Congress party over the last five years. 
Earlier today, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asserted that his exit wouldn’t have a significant impact on the party as “lakhs of Milind Deoras will join”.
But with such major exits, questions arise about how the party will cope with this loss and whether it will be able to defeat the BJP with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its face.
Congress needs to introspect, as 2024 is very close; the party cannot bear such losses at this time.
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