Milind Deora joins Shiva Sena for "development agenda" as Congress terms move as outcome of "greed and fear"

On the occasion of Makar Sankranti when Rahul Gandhi launched Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra campaign from Manipur ahead of Lok Sabha polls to boost the morale of Congressmen, a prominent leader ended his 55-year-old association with the grand old party by joining hands with Shiv Sena under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

After resigning from Congress' primary membership on Sunday, Milind Deora justified his move, by saying that he had chosen a "path to development."

"I am honoured and deeply grateful for my well-wishers and supporters. As I begin a new political journey under the leadership of Eknath Shinde in Shiv Sena. I remain committed to working diligently towards the development of Mumbai and Maharashtra, contributing to India's progress," Milind Deora posted on X.

After joining Shiv Sena, Deora said, "This is a very emotional day for me. I had never thought that I would quit Congress. Today, I joined Shiv Sena."While emphasising 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. That is why did I severed the 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 UBT given importance to constructive and positive suggestions and merit and capability, Eknath Shinde and I wouldn't have been here. Eknath Shinde had to make a major decision, I had to make a major decision," he added.

Attacking the grand old party, he said that earlier Congress used to offer constructive suggestions to this country on how to take the country forward; they have just one goal to speak against PM Modi.

"The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country on how to take the country forward now has just one goa speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it," he added.

However, the Congress party targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Deora's resignation on Sunday.

Speaking on Deora's resignation, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Prime Minister has decided this, there is no doubt about it."

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "What can I say? If someone wishes to leave the party, they can. I met him last time in Nagpur and had a good conversation with him."

Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president Varsha Eknath Gaikwad called Deora's decision unfortunate and said, "It is unfortunate that you have taken this decision, Milind Deora ji. On a personal level and as a Congress karyakarta, I feel sad today."

Responding to Deora's resignation, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "We have come to Manipur and the people here have welcomed us because only Congress and INDI alliance talk about the issues of Manipur. At this time, if Milind Deora ji is not here then it's his loss."

Senior leader Sandeep Dikshit expressed his astonishment at Deora joining an alliance party of BJP and said, "I will be surprised if someone like him, after leaving Congress would join an alliance party of the BJP. There are two big weaknesses in humans and those are greed and fear."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said that the induction of former Union Minister and Congress leader Milind Deora in his party was just a trailer and the full picture was yet to come, hinting at more influx from the opposition ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking after Deora joined his party in the presence of several leaders of Shiv Sena in Mumbai, Shinde said that he performed an "operation" one and half years before and didn't even have to make stitches and the operation was done.

"I am not a doctor. Despite not being a doctor, I performed an operation one and half year ago. I didn't even have to make stitches and the operation was done. I won't say anything more than this.This is just a trailer, film is yet to come in," he said.

Shinde drew parallels between the sentiments expressed by Milind Deora on the current occasion and the emotions he himself experienced 1.5 years ago when he severed ties with then Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.

The former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP joined the ruling party in a function in Varsha, the official residence of the chief minister, in the afternoon. During the ceremony, Deora affirmed his commitment to strengthen Shinde's leadership further and praised his vision for Mumbai and the state.