Milind Deora was once a close aide of Rahul Gandhi. (File)
Former Union Minister Milind Deora resigned from the Congress party and has joined the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
"I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party," he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he added.
Speaking to reporters at his Mumbai home, Milind Deora said that he quit Congress to walk on the "path of development".
"I am going walking on the path of development," Mr Deora said as he stepped out of his house with wife Pooja to visit Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi to offer prayers.
Mr Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli 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.
He had recently expressed displeasure over the Uddhav Thackeray faction winning the Mumbai South seat. The Uddhav Thackeray-led group, Shiv Sena (UBT) is a part of the opposition alliance.
"Today is a very exciting day for me. I never thought that I would leave the Congress. But today my family's 55-year long relationship with Congress has been broken," Mr Deora told reporters after joining the Shiv Sena today.
"You all know my politics have been progressive and secular. Everyone knows that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde works among public. I have to strengthen his hand," he added.
In a video statement issued last Sunday, Mr Deora said that if such statements by an “alliance partner” don't stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats.
He took the decision to resign from Congress after discussions with his supporters.
Taking a dig at Milind Deora's exit from the party, Congress general secretary recalled how his father Murli Deora had friends in all political parties but always stood by the party.
"I recall my long years of association with Murli Deora with great fondness. He had close friends in all political parties, but was a stalwart Congressman who always stood by the Congress party — through thick and thin. Tathastu!" he wrote on X.