The late Murli Deora, although not a great public speaker, carved his niche through astute political maneuvering, forging friendships across party lines and earning the moniker of a ‘kingmaker’ who once solidified South Mumbai as a Congress stronghold.

Today, 10 years after his death, his 47-year-old son Milind resigned from the Congress, ending his family’s 55-year ties with the party.

As the Deoras end their journey with the Congress, here’s a look back at their relationship with the Gandhi family and how Milind’s resignation impacts the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, which was once a Congress fortress. 

The Gandhi-Deora Ties

Murli Deora’s influence extended beyond political circles to include the top leaders of the business world, where his camaraderie with prominent figures like Dhirubhai Ambani and unwavering loyalty to the Gandhi family became defining facets of his political persona. This intricate web of relationships came to light at his funeral, attended by luminaries spanning political and corporate realms.

READ | Milind Deora Quits Congress Ahead Of Polls To “Walk On Path Of Development”

In addition to being the president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee for an impressive 22-year stint, Murli Deora was also a four-time Lok Sabha MP and three-time Rajya Sabha MP. He also stands singular as the only petroleum minister to serve a full five-year term in two consecutive governments under prime minister Manmohan Singh.

In 1968, a payment of 25 paise secured his position as a primary member of the Congress, a party to which he remained steadfastly loyal throughout his career. His early foray into municipal politics marked the beginning of a journey that would see him serve as Mumbai’s mayor and eventually shape the political landscape of South Mumbai.

In the 1970s, when Congress faced setbacks both at the national and state levels, Mr Deora emerged as a key figure. A split engineered by Sharad Pawar, leading to the formation of the Progressive Democratic Front with the Janata Party, marked a challenging period for Congress. Despite having no aspirations for ministerial roles, Murli Deora assumed the role of president of the Bombay Pradesh Congress Committee, a position he held for over two decades. 

The Congress veteran was also a close confidant of prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. 

Tasked with the role of a bridge between the Congress and the city’s corporate elite, he facilitated the smooth flow of funds to the party. His relationships with industrial magnates like the Birlas and Dhirubhai Ambani played a crucial role in sustaining the party’s financial machinery.

Whenever Sonia Gandhi visited Mumbai, Murli Deora organised lunches at the Cricket Club of India, an event that drew journalists and prominent personalities alike.

In the 21st century, the baton of South Mumbai’s representation was passed on to his son, Milind, as the senior Deora continued to exert influence behind the scenes.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s today described Murli Deora as a stalwart Congressman who stood by the party through thick and thin. 

Milind Deora’s Exit, And Its Impact

As tributes flowed, the departure of Milind Deora from the Congress has raised questions on how the move could affect the party.

The Congress, a member of the opposition INDIA bloc, is already in a tight position, discussing seat-sharing plans with multiple parties across states, be it with the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal or the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab.

READ | Rahul Gandhi’s Vanishing Team: 11 Leaders Who Quit Congress Since 2019

With the general elections scheduled this year, the party walks on a tightrope, trying to avoid embarrassing situations like Sachin Pilot’s rebellion in Rajasthan, a state which they lost in the recently held assembly elections.  

Reacting to the news of Milind Deora’s exit, the Congress has claimed that the announcement of his resignation, just before the start of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra – a mega Congress outreach rally – was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Milind Deora today joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. This decision adds to a growing list of prominent Congress leaders who have chosen to part ways with the party in recent years. Leaders like Kapil Sibal, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, are among many who have quit the party.

The Mumbai South seat is currently held by Uddhav Thackeray-faction Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant. consequences for both the party and the political dynamics in South Mumbai. 

Milind Deora has played a significant role in shaping the Congress’s strategy in the region. His exit weakens the Congress’s position, leaving a void that might be challenging to fill in the upcoming elections. 

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction not only gained an experienced politician but also a potential winner with a proven track record in the constituency in a crucial poll year.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has given a deadline to India to withdraw its troops from the island nation. The Maldivian President said the Indian military personnel should leave the nation by March 15. The development comes a few days after Mohamed Muizzu met Xi Jinping on his first state visit to China after being elected. 

Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, said, “Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration.” According to reports, around 88 Indian troops are present in Maldives. 

The Maldives President’s deadline comes almost two months after he called for a withdrawal of Indian troops and said the nation “has to ensure that there is no presence of a foreign military on their soil”. The current Maldivian President came to power with his “India Out” campaign and is considered close to China.

India-Maldives Diplomatic Row

Maldives and India have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. The group held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male’ on Sunday morning. Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar also attended the meeting, the report said.

Nazim confirmed the meeting and said the agenda for the meeting was the request to withdraw troops by March 15. The Indian government did not immediately confirm or comment on the media report.

The withdrawal of the Indian troops from Maldives was a key election promise of Muizzu. It recently upgraded ties with China after a diplomatic row between India and Maldives erupted after Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi post his visit to Lakshadweep islands. The three ministers were sacked and the Maldivian Opposition criticised the comments, but the President said “we may be small but no one has the license to bully us”.

“Workable Solution”

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju visited the Maldives in November and met the current President. Sources in the Indian Government told NDTV earlier that the two sides agreed to a “workable solution” to continue the use of Indian military platforms by the island nation as they serve the interests of its people.

These personnel operate India-sponsored radars and surveillance aircraft. Indian warships in the region help patrol the country’s exclusive economic zone. Despite its small size, the Maldives plays a significant role in regional politics, particularly due to the strategic maritime passages in its northern and southern parts, making it a key toll gate in the Indian Ocean.

President Muizzu earlier acknowledged the significant role of two Indian helicopters, the Dhruv, in numerous emergency medical evacuations. This small group of Indian soldiers have been stationed in the Maldives for several years now. 

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had said India’s cooperation with Maldives is based on jointly addressing shared challenges and priorities. 

India’s assistance and platforms have contributed significantly to public welfare, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and in combating illegal maritime activities in the island nation, the ministry said.  

No Sudden Shift

The shift from Ibrahim Solih’s (President before Muizzu) “India First” policy to “India Out” is not sudden. Ibrahim Solih’s predecessor, Abdullah Yameen, is said to be the first Maldivian leader who started the campaign against India in 2013 and brought the island nation’s ties closer to China. His successor Ibrahim Solih maintained friendly ties with India during his tenure from 2018 to 2023. The role of social media and Maldives’ Dhiyares News is considered significant in crafting the narrative against India during Abdullah Yameen’s term.

Abdulla Yameen was barred from contesting the election because of a criminal conviction and an 11-year jail term for corruption, he nominated Muizzu. 

Muizzu earlier said he did not intend to upend the regional balance by replacing the Indian military with Chinese troops. The Maldives President is trying to strike a fine balance in its ties with India and China. Beijing has economic interests in Maldives and is its largest external creditor, but China’s debt trap policy raises concerns that the island nation may fall prey to the policy.

Former Union Minister Milind Deora — who resigned from the Congress and joined the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde — slammed Congress left right and centre today. The 47-year-old, who initially did not attribute any reason for ending his family’s five-decade association with the Congress, started his criticism of the Grand Old Party shortly after.

Sitting at the country’s financial capital, Mr Shinde at his side, Mr Deora — whose father was party veteran Murli Deora — said: “It is sad that there is a lot of difference between the Congress my father joined in 1968 and the one I joined in 2004. Had the Congress and the UBT focussed on constructive issues and suggestions, and merit and ability, then Mr Shinde and I would not be here today.”

Then he added, “The same party that ushered in economic reforms 30 years ago, is a party that is abusing industrialists, businessmen and calling businessmen ‘anti-nationals'”.

“The same party that used to offer suggestions on how to take the country forward, today the same party is only focussed on opposing what Prime Minister Narendra Modi says or does,” remarked the former MP, who had initially said he changed sides to ensure that he could “walk the path of development”.

Mr Deora, who for long had been counted among the disgruntled section of the Congress, took the plunge today after Shiv Sena UBT — the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray — laid claim to his stronghold, the Mumbai South seat.

He wanted the seat to remain with the Congress, despite his defeat to Sena’s Arvind Sawant in the last two general elections.

“You all know my politics have been progressive and secular. Everyone knows that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde works among public. I have to strengthen his hand,” he added.

The Congress claimed Milind Deora’s move was timed to steal away attention from Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, which started from Manipur today.