Jairam Ramesh, the general secretary of Congress, informed PTI this Friday that he had spoken over the phone with Milind Deora.
The Congress on Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had chosen the timing of Milind Deora’s resignation to leave the party in order to manage the headlines in order to counter the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The party also insisted that the resignation will not affect anything.
According to Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, “lakhs of Milind Deora who believe in our organization and ideology stay,” while one Milind Deora may disappear.
Mr. Ramesh stated that Mr. Milind Deora had called him on Friday and asked to talk with Rahul Gandhi regarding his worries regarding the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray staking claim to the Lok Sabha seat from South Mumbai. Milind Deora and his dad, Murli Deora, were both Mumbai South MPs.
On Friday at 8:52 AM, I received a message from him. At 2:47 PM, I replied, asking, “Are you planning a switch?” He sent a message at 2:48 asking, “Is speaking to you not possible?” I told him I would call you, and I spoke with him at 3:40,” Mr. Ramesh stated.
“He Milind Deora expressed his concern that the seat is held by the Shiv Sena and asked to meet with Rahul Gandhi to discuss the matter. He also requested that I speak with Mr. Gandhi told the Congress general secretary about the situation.
He had clearly made up his mind to leave and all of this was a farce. The PM clearly set the timeliness of his departure announcement,” Mr. Ramesh claimed.
Raising an eyebrow at Deora’s announcement timing, Ramesh claimed that the PM had made the decision and that Deora was merely a puppet.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is widely publicized on TV and in newspapers worldwide. The PM, who is an expert at managing headlines, created the headline “Milind Deora leaves Congress,” but Mr. Ramesh told PTI that this will have no impact.
When a single Milind Deora leaves, lakhs of Milinds who support our organization and philosophy remain. It makes no difference if they receive a ticket or not; after feeling let down for a few hours, they resume working (for the party). “PM has made Milind Deora’s going viral, but our organization won’t be affected,” he claimed.
Mr. Ramesh added that Mr. Deora was “playing a game” with him during their conversation a few days prior.
It was two days ago that we spoke. He was a good friend of mine once, and I used to talk to him,” the general secretary of Congress stated.
Mr. Ramesh spoke warmly of his many years of friendship with seven-time Congress MP Murli Deora in a post on X.
“Murli Deora was a devoted Congressman who consistently supported the Congress party through good times and bad, despite having close friends in all political parties. Tathastu, he exclaimed.
Deora, a former Union minister, announced on Sunday that he had left the party’s primary membership.
Today is the end of an important chapter in my political journey,” the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP wrote in a post on social media platform X. I have submitted my resignation from the Congress, thus ending the 55-year association of my family with the party. For their steadfast support over the years, I am appreciative to all leaders, colleagues, and karyakartas.”
Recently, Mr. Deora—who was named joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee—voiced his displeasure with the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, staking a claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.
