Milind Deora quits Congress, joins Shinde-led Shiv Sena

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora joined the Shiv Sena led by chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday, a switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition that coincided with the launch of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

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Deora declared he switched sides since the Congress "was no longer the party it used to be".

Political analysts, however, said the 47-year-old politician was miffed about his South Mumbai seat possibly going to the Shiv Sena (UBT) and may have quit in a huff.

"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 relations with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & Karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," said a post by Deora on X (formerly Twitter), before he, 10 former corporators and 20 office-bearers of the Congress from South Mumbai joined the Sena.

Resignation done, Deora went through the saffron drill of his new party. In the morning, he visited the Siddhi Vinayak temple and also paid tribute to Bal Thackeray's statue at Regal in Colaba. In the afternoon, he joined Eknath Shinde at the CM's bungalow and, donning the saffron scarf he was presented with, held aloft the party flag.

Explaining his decision to join the saffron alliance at the function, he said: "I believe in the politics of GAIN-growth, aspiration, inclusiveness and nationalism and am not in favour of the politics of PAIN personal attacks, injustice and negativity...