Mumbai: Former Union Minister Milind Deora joined the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, hours after quitting the Congress. He was inducted into the Shiv Sena fold by Eknath Shinde, who presented him with a saffron flag.
At the induction ceremony, Deora said it was a very emotional day for him. “I will leave Congress, I never imagined that. Today, I left my 55 years of association with Congress to (join) the leadership of Eknath Shinde ji,” Milind Deora said.
“Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is available for all. He is a person (who is) completely grounded…Modi ji and Amit Shah ji’s vision for the country is very big, and therefore I want to join them,” he added.
Deora confirmed his resignation from the Congress’s primary membership, terming it a “conclusion of a significant chapter” in his political journey. He was reportedly unhappy over the seat-sharing discussion between Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, is a part of the Opposition alliance.
On his decision to leave the party, Milind Deora said, “I was facing the party’s most challenging 10 years. The Congress is very different right now. If Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena had constructive thoughts and good thoughts, I would not have been present here (with Eknath Shinde faction).” He alleged that the Congress at present was against industrialists.
