In yet another setback for the Congress, on the day it launched the second leg of the 6,500 km Bharat Jodo Yatra on Sunday, former Union Minister Milind Deora quit the party "to walk the path of development" and joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Congress alleged that the timing of Deora's departure from the party was orchestrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for headline management to counter the yatra, and asserted that it would have no impact.
On his part, Deora ended a "55-year-old association" of the Deora family with the Grand Old Party. The former Mumbai South MP announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the party on the social media platform. Deora was the head of the Mumbai Congress at one time and is the son of the party stalwart late Murli Deora.
"Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, thereby 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," said Deora. Later, he went to Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi to offer prayers.
In the afternoon, Deora joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Eknath Shinde at Varsha, the official residence of the Chief Minister.
Earlier in the day, when Deora stepped out of his residence "Ramalayam" in south Mumbai, he told reporters that he was "going to walk on the path of development."
Deora also launched a veiled attack on the Congress leadership after joining the Shiv Sena, saying that his parent party is not the same as it used to be when Manmohan Singh launched economic reforms. He emphasised that the Congress is now criticising industrialists and businessmen, labeling them as anti-nationals.
Deora expressed his belief that PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have a vision for developing the country. He also praised Shinde as the "most accessible" chief minister.
Deora, recently appointed as the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had previously expressed disapproval of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, which he had represented in the past.
In the undivided Shiv Sena, Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in both the 2014 and 2019 general elections.
Congress chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh remarked that while one Milind Deora departs, "lakhs of Milinds who believe in our organisation and ideology stay." Ramesh revealed that Deora had contacted him over the phone last Friday, expressing his desire to speak with Rahul Gandhi regarding his concerns about the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) claiming the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.
"He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 am, and then at 2:47 pm, I replied, 'Are you planning a switch?'. At 2:48, he sent a message, 'Is speaking to you not possible?' I said I will call you, and at 3:40, I spoke to him," recounted Ramesh.
"He (Deora) expressed concern that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat. He wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi, explain the situation about the seat, and also requested me to talk to Mr Gandhi about it," added the Congress general secretary.
"However, it became apparent that this was all a farce, and he had already decided to leave." Ramesh alleged the timing of the announcement of his departure was clearly determined by the PM.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, however, asserted that there would be no compromise on the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. In a swipe at the BJP, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule questioned whether the saffron party had no talent of its own.
Following Deora's announcement of his resignation, Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad expressed regret, stating that it was unfortunate he had chosen to leave the party on the day when Rahul Gandhi-led "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" commenced from Manipur.
Deora's departure from the Congress adds to a growing list of young leaders who have left the party to embark on new journeys in other political entities, predominantly the BJP. The lack of resolution for lingering issues and intra-party factionalism has previously prompted several promising leaders from the Rahul camp to leave.
The list is extensive, with former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot standing out as the sole exception. Pilot chose to remain with the Congress despite promises made to him by the top brass, which were not fulfilled when he called off his revolt in 2020 and returned to the Congress, citing a resolution of differences with his adversary Ashok Gehlot, the then CM.
Union Minister under the Congress-led UPA regime, Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigned from the Congress to join the BJP in March 2020 and is currently a minister in the Modi Cabinet. Scindia stated that he could no longer tolerate the disrespect coming from veteran Kamal Nath.
Another ex-UPA minister, Jitin Prasada, left the Congress, citing the party's growing disconnect with the people. Subsequently, a series of exits occurred, with Priyanka Chaturvedi joining the erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena, former Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev quitting for the TMC, former Union Minister RPN Singh, former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, and party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill joining the BJP.
The exodus began with then Assam Congress stalwart Himanta Biswa Sarma leaving the party for the BJP on the eve of the 2014 polls. Congress stalwarts Amarinder Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Kapil Sibal also remain on the list of Congress exodus.
(With inputs from agencies)