Veteran leader Milind Deora quits Congress, party remembers 'stalwart Congressman'

Milind is son of Congress veteran Murli Deora.

After 55 years of affiliation with the Indian National Congress, Milind Deora announced his resignation as the party's primary member on Sunday, January 14.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Deora did not give a reason for taking this decision. This comes at a time when Congress is supposedly trying to weave a nationwide coalition of parties that see the BJP-led coalition as a rival.

Taking to X, Milind Deora tweeted, “Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family’s 55-year relationship with the party.…"

Milind is son of Congress veteran Murli Deora. Speaking of his political career in the party, Deora had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He ended up as the first runner-up in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant.

On his resignation, Deora noted, "I am walking on the path of development."

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, later in the morning, commented on the development, "He was a big leader of our party and he had friendship with all parties but he was a stalwart Congressman. I remember him today."

Party leader Sandeep Dikshit remarked on Deora's resignation, "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".