"Prime Minister decided this": Congress after Milind Deora quits party

NEW DELHI: Following Milind Deora's resignation from the Congress party, the party's general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a role in his departure. "The Prime Minister has decided this; there is no doubt about it," the Congress MP said while speaking on Deora's resignation.

Further, Jairam Ramesh remembered Deora's father and veteran Congress leader, Murli Deora, and said that the latter stood by the party through thick and thin. Further, Ramesh remembered Deora's father and veteran Congress leader, Murli Deora and said that the latter stood by the party through thick and thin.

"He was a strong leader of our party and maintained good relations with all parties and party workers. He was a stalwart Congressman and stood by Congress through thick and thin. I remember him today," the Congress MP said. Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president Varsha Eknath Gaikwad called Deora's decision unfortunate and said, "It is unfortunate that you have taken this decision, @milinddeora ji. On a personal level and as a Congress karyakarta, I feel sad today."

"The Deora family has had a long & storied association with the Congress Parivar. All of us were trying to convince you against taking this step. The party leadership also reached out to you," Gaikward said in a post on X. "It is also regrettable that your announcement comes on a day when the party embarks on the historic #BharatJodoNyayYatra," she added.

Congress leader Manickam Tagore shared a picture quote saying "Some people are willing to betray years of friendship just to get a little bit of the spotlight," while reposting Deora's post confirming his resignation.

True . https://t.co/QYQ3LODfRf pic.twitter.com/XJvCaCFRYR

— Manickam Tagore .Bமாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) January 14, 2024

Congress leader Ajay Yadav criticized Deora over his resignation on the day the party is going to start 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. "The timing of leaving the party is not right. Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is starting today and Milind Deora should not have left the party on this day itself," Ajay Yadav said. Deora tendered resignation from the party's primary membership earlier in the day. Deora confirmed his resignation in a post on X, and stated, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party."

"I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he added. Milin Deora has served as Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology and Shipping during the Congress tenure from 2012 to 2014. He was also a former president of Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee.

As per party sources, Deora left Congress after he expressed displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT), an INDI alliance partner of Congress, claiming the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, which he had represented earlier.

He is likely to join Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena later in the day.

Several party members are also likely to join Shiv Sena in support of Deora, the sources said.