'Politics of PAIN': Milind Deora reveals why he quit Congress

Mumbai: Milind Deora, who quit the Congress and joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena today, said he wouldn't have quit the party had its leadership given importance to his "constructive" and positive suggestions, merit and capabilities. In his first reaction after joining the dominant Sena faction, Deora accused his former party of indulging in the politics of what he called “PAIN -- personal attacks, injustice and negativity”.

Referring to his family's 55-year-old association with the Congress, Milind Deora claimed "today's Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968".

“This is a very emotional day for me. I had never thought that I would quit Congress. Today, I joined Shiv Sena,” he was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.

Milind Deora said he remained with the Congress during its most challenging decade.

"I have been receiving a lot of phone calls since this morning. Why did I sever 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 said.

Milind Deora said the Congress party's only goal is to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country, on how to take the country forward, has now just one goal -- speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it. I believe in the politics of GAIN - Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. I don't believe in the politics of PAIN - Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity," he said.

Also read: 'Greed, fear': Congress launches ‘lakhs of Milind Deoras’ attack after snub

Deora on Sunday joined the Shiv Sena in Mumbai's Varsha bungalow, the official residence of the chief minister of Maharashtra.

Earlier today, Deora, a former Congress MP from South Mumbai, resigned from the primary membership of the party.

"Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he wrote on X.

According to former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, Deora was upset over Shiv Sena (UBT) insisting on contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the South Mumbai seat.

Deora himself wanted to contest from the seat.

The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant defeated Milind Deora in 2014 and 2019 general elections from South Mumbai.

After the Sena's vertical split in 2022, Sawant supported the Uddhav Thackeray faction, which will contest the 2024 general elections in alliance with the Congress.

Also read: Eknath Shinde's first reaction on Milind Deora joining Shiv Sena reports: ‘Welcome…’

Earlier today, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed his exit wouldn't impact the party as "lakhs of Milind Deoras will join".

Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit hinted that Deora gave in to fear and greed.

Speaking on Deora's resignation, Chairman of Congress' Media and Publicity Department, Pawan Khera, told ANI, "Ask them (BJP). They get so nervous whenever we kickstart a Yatra; they hatch some conspiracy."

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari called his exit a "petty matter".

After Jitin Prasad and Jyotiraditya Scindia, this is the third major exit of the young leaders of the Congress party over the last five years.

With inputs from agencies