Earlier this year, January sprang a surprise in political circles when Milind Deora, a former Congress Member of Parliament bid adieu to the party to join Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. The ideologies were in sharp contrast and for the sauve South Mumbai-bred Milind, the Shiv Sena’s rough and tough politics seemed like a striking departure from his career graph.
The relationship between the Deoras and Gandhis has been legendary with Murli Deora known for his close relationship with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia. He joined the Congress in 1968 and then presided over the Mumbai party for 22 years. Hailing from a Marwari family with close connections with the business world, Murli was the bridge between the Congress and the captains of the industry. He enjoyed a good rapport with heads of states from different parts of the world and used his diplomacy to attract investment. He was also known to raise funds for the Congress through the business houses that he maintained warm relations with, making him a key asset for his party.
Murli bhai, as he was known in Mumbai and in the party, began his political career as a corporator and then became a mayor in 1977 with support from Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. He led the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee for two decades and effectively strengthened the party in Mumbai. Being elected from the same constituency for seven terms is no mean feat and is a reflection of his popularity in the South Mumbai which he represented in Parliament. He won widespread recognition when, through his efforts, the Supreme Court banned smoking in public places in 2001.
His son Milind entered electoral politics as a Member of Parliament in 2009 and the father-son duo were part of the Manmohan Singh-led government. The senior Deora was the minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas for a long time while his son was a junior minister for shipping. Milind’s brother Mukul, however, has stayed away from politics and is a musician and a film producer.
A three-term Member of Parliament, Milind was once known to be close friends with Rahul Gandhi but relations between the two families seem to have soured with Milind quitting the party. Now a Rajya Sabha MP, he was tasked with managing the Congress’ election campaign for Worli during this year’s Lok Sabha polls. As the two sections of the Shiv Sena fight each other in Worli, Milind is pitted against incumbent MLA Aditya Thackeray. The contest in Worli will see the heirs of two prominent political families fight to win this constituency.
Comments