Former Union Minister Milind Deora spoils the Cong's Nyay Yatra party with abrupt resignation

In what has come as a surprise to many, second-generation Congress leader Milind Deora resigned from the party the very day Rahul Gandhi kicked off his Nyay Yatra. The departure of the senior Maharashtra leader to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena adds to the challenges the Congress has been facing in recent times, and raises questions about its internal dynamics and overall strategy. It is also a telling comment on the way the party is being managed. His father Murli Deora was a veteran Congress leader and the family has had a 55-year association with the Congress. Deora’s departure adds to a growing list of young leaders who have left the Congress to embark on new journeys. The lack of resolution for lingering issues and intra-party factionalism has prompted several promising leaders from the Rahul camp to leave. Rahul confidant and former Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned to join the BJP in March 2020 and is currently a Minister in the Modi Cabinet. Another ex-UPA Minister, Jitin Prasada, left the Congress, citing the party’s growing disconnect with people. Subsequently, a series of exits occurred, with Priyanka Chaturvedi joining the erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena, former Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Deb quitting for the TMC, former Union Minister RPN Singh, former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill joining the BJP. The exodus began with then Assam Congress leader Himanta Biswa Sarma leaving for the BJP ahead of the 2014 polls. Congress stalwarts Capt Amarinder Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal also remain on the exodus list.

Though the 47-year-old Deora did not give a reason for severing ties with the Congress, he has strongly criticised it for not focusing on "constructive issues, suggestions, merit and ability". He also blamed the party for engaging in the criticism of industrialists and businessmen. Though certainly a jolt, Deora’s exit will not be a major setback for the Congress as it is already aligned with the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray. But it must introspect the reasons for such decisions by second-generation Congress leaders. Though poaching is not new to Indian politics, the party leadership must be concerned about the issues its young Turks might have. Deora's departure brings attention to the internal conflicts and dissent within the Congress. It highlights the need for the leadership to address internal grievances and foster a more inclusive and cohesive environment. Learning from such setbacks, the leadership should focus on rebuilding trust within its ranks and projecting a united front to regain public confidence. A transparent and participatory decision-making process should be implemented to foster inclusivity within the Congress since the top-down approach is not working for it anyway. However, the party should take such incidents in its stride and focus for now on its Nyay Yatra, which should be continued with renewed vigour, focusing on grassroots engagement.