‘PM Modi has decided this…’: Congress as Milind Deora quits party

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Milind's father, Murli Deora and highlighted his leadership and strong association with the Congress party. He said, "He (Murli Deora, father of Milind Deora) was a big leader of our party and he had a friendship with all parties but he was a stalwart Congressman. I remember him today." Jairam Ramesh also spoke with news agency PTI and said that Deora had spoken with him over phone this Friday and requested that he wanted to speak with Rahul Gandhi over his concerns over the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.

“He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 AM and then at 2:47 PM I replied, ‘Are you planning a switch?’. At 2:48 he sent a message, ‘is speaking to you not possible?’ I said I will call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him," Ramesh said as quoted by PTI. “He (Deora) said he is concerned that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat, he wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi and explain to him about the seat and also wanted me to talk to Mr. Gandhi about it," PTI reported quoting the Congress general secretary.

“Obviously all this was a farce and he had made up his mind to leave. The timing of the announcement of his departure was clearly determined by the PM," Ramesh further alleged. As per ANI report, Deora is set to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena today.

Under his leadership, 400 Congress workers will be joining the Shiv Sena at Varsha today. Deora was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee. As Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is set to begin today, BJP has slammed the party on Deora's resignation and said that Gandhi should instead start 'Congress Ke Netao Ki Nyay Yatra' to address leaders leaving the party.