‘Don't Believe In Doing Negative Politics’: Milind Deora Explains Why He Quit Congress to Join Shinde's Shiv Sena

Negative politics and no agenda of Congress were among the reasons that prompted former union minister Milind Deora to cut 55-year-old ties of his family with the grand-old party, with just 4-5 months away from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, joined Shiv Sena in the presence of Eknath Shinde at the Chief Minister’s official residence– Versha in Mumbai.

After resigning from Congress’s primary membership, Deora said he was going on the “path of development”.

“I am going walking on the path of development,” Deora said as he stepped out of his ‘Ramalayam’ residence on Peddar Road with his wife Pooja to visit Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi to offer prayers.

Deora’s Reasons For Leaving Congress

After joining Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Deora said he was loyal to the Congress during its most challenging decade but now it is different.

“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 & 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 added.

The former minister went on to say that he believes in the politics of ‘GAIN’ – Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism.

“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.

Deora said that he doesn’t believe in the politics of ‘PAIN’ – Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity.

Deora further said a strong government is needed at the Centre and States in India. “It is a matter of pride for all of us that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is stronger today…I would like to add that in the last 10 years not one terror attack has happened in Mumbai. This is a major achievement for Mumbaikars,” he added.

The former MP said he does not believe in negative politics and his ideology is to work for the people. “I don’t believe in abusing people and doing negative politics. Those who have no agenda, no positive program to take the country forward will continue to speak negatively,” he said.

Milind Deora’s Mumbai South LS Seat Claim

Deora, a union minister during the UPA regime, represented Mumbai South for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014. However, he lost the seat to Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant in the 2014 and 2019 elections.

The seat was also held by the late Union Minister Murli Deora at least four times in the past and was seen as a Congress stronghold in Mumbai for several years.

As the seat-sharing talks in the INDIA alliance of which Shiv Sena (UBT) is a partner, Sanjay Raut made a stunning claim over the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency citing Sawant’s back-to-back victories.

The move did not sit well with Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee. In a video statement last Sunday, he said that if such statements by an “alliance partner” don’t stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats.