After former Union Minister and Congress Milind Deodra announced his resignation from the party on Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde refrained from providing a clear response regarding the potential inclusion of Deora. However, Shinde stated that his party would extend a welcome to Deora if he decided to join the party. "I have heard about his move. If he is joining the party, I will welcome him," Shinde was quoted by PTI.


Earlier on Sunday, Deora announced through his X handle that he is quitting the Congress party and ending his family’s 55-year-long relationship with the party. Taking to X, Deora stated: “Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my family’s 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years."


Milind Deora Quits Congress: NCP Calls It 'Unfortunate', BJP Mocks With 'Congress Todo Yatra' Jibe


Commenting on Deora’s move, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president and MP Supriya Sule said that it was “unfortunate that the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] has to constantly “import people from a completely different ideology to strengthen their party”. She further added that in a while, the party’s name [BJP] will remain the same but the party members will be of the Congress.






ALSO READ: What Next For Milind Deora After The End Of A '55-Year-Old' Alliance?


In his first reaction, Deora told the media that he is "walking on the path of development," as reported by news agency ANI. Reacting to this, BJP leader Pankaj Singh told PTI, "He (Milind Deora) has said that he will walk on the path of development. This shows that those who want development are feeling suffocated in the Congress”. 






Deora’s resignation comes on the same day the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ is slated to begin and oon after his announcement, the Congress claimed that the choice of the day was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.


BJP leader Jaiveer Shergill also commented on the resignation and said, "First, Assam's general secretary (Apurba Bhattacharjee) resigned (from Congress), and now Milind Deora has too. The Congress 'Todo' Yatra has begun. Rahul Gandhi has to answer regarding the injustice he has done to the party and its leaders” reported PTI. 






Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam told ANI, "We will welcome every patriot, every nationalist who wants to contribute towards nation building...Bharat Nirman is going on under the leadership of PM Modi. People are working at their parties but any son of Bharat Mata who wants to leave behind the dynasty and wants to join us is welcome."






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