Ex-Congress leader Milind Deora joins Shiv Sena
Former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena hours after announcing his resignation from the Congress. Son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, the 47-year-old ended his family's 55-year-long ties with the Congress hours before Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began from Manipur. His decision is seen as a setback for the grand old party in Maharashtra.
Watch: Shinde welcomes Deora into Shiv Sena
400 Congress workers to join Shinde-led Shiv Sena
Deora joined Shiv Sena in the presence of Maharashtra CM Shinde. This comes after Deora dismissed speculations of him joining the party, saying, "I'm listening to my supporters. I haven't taken a decision yet." Reportedly, 10 former municipal corporators, 25 senior party functionaries, 20 top trader and merchant unions, and 400 Congress workers will also join the Sena later on Sunday.
Deora announced his resignation on X
Deora announced his resignation on X on Sunday morning, saying, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey." According to reports, Deora was upset over the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, where he and his father had served as MPs. The UBT is part of the Congress-led opposition alliance.
Know about Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency
Deora had won the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat twice. However, Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena (UBT), won it in 2019. In the seat-sharing discussions between Thackeray's Sena and Congress, the Sena stated that it would fight for the seats it already has. According to this, the Mumbai South would go to the Sena, but Deora wanted it to remain with the Congress.
Know more about Deora
Deora had an illustrious stint with the Congress like his father. He was elected as one of the youngest MPs in the 14th Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket. He was the Union Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology between 2011 and 2014. In 2012, he was given an additional responsibility as junior Union Minister of Shipping.
