Milind Deora, a former Union minister and ex-MP from Mumbai South, has resigned from the Congress, adding to a growing list of young leaders leaving the party, often to join the BJP. Deora's departure underscores the unaddressed concerns of young leaders once considered close to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. It also highlights the perceived disconnect and inaccessibility of the Gandhi family with the lower rung of party leadership, amid the declining fortunes of the grand old party.
Deora's resignation comes after a prolonged and unfruitful wait for assurances from the party, particularly regarding contesting from Mumbai South in the upcoming general election—a seat represented by his family for decades. Concerns over the lack of redressal of issues and intra-party factionalism have been cited, echoing the reasons given by other leaders who have left the party.
The list of departures includes prominent names like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasada, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sushmita Dev, RPN Singh, Sunil Jakhar, and Jaiveer Shergill, among others. Reasons cited for leaving often include the party's growing disconnect with the people, intra-party factionalism, and personal insults.
Despite the exits, the Congress leadership has often downplayed the departures, attributing them to leaders lacking the capacity to take on the BJP in an ideological fight. Rahul Gandhi has maintained the view that those wishing to quit are free to do so. The party questions the timing of Deora's resignation, coinciding with Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
The BJP seized on the resignations, with IT cell head Amit Malviya suggesting the Congress should first address internal issues before launching Nyay Yatra. BJP leader Jaiveer Shergill emphasized the beginning of the "Congress todo yatra," indicating the series of resignations, and called for Rahul Gandhi to answer for the perceived injustices within the party.
(With Agency Inputs)
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