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The Maharashtra unit of the Congress on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora over his remarks regarding party representation at the funeral of legendary singer Asha Bhosle, reported PTI.

The controversy erupted after Deora, a former Congress leader and Union minister, suggested in a social media post that one political party had failed to send senior representatives to the funeral, indirectly targeting his former party.

Deora’s post triggers political row

In his post, Deora described the funeral as a gathering marked by “love, song, and gratitude,” attended by leaders from across political parties. However, he noted that “one exception stood out,” which he said reflected a disconnect from the country’s cultural ethos.

Though he did not explicitly name the Congress, the remarks were widely interpreted as criticism of the party, prompting a swift and strong response.

Congress counters claim, lists leaders who attended

Rejecting Deora’s allegation, the Congress asserted that several of its senior leaders were present to pay their respects. The party named leaders including Sushilkumar Shinde, Naseem Khan, and Lok Sabha MP Praniti Shinde, among others, who attended the funeral, reported PTI.

The party said their presence reflected both cultural respect and longstanding values, countering Deora’s claim of absence, reported PTI.

Sharp criticism over ‘ingratitude’ and political shift

In a strongly worded statement, the Congress accused Deora of “ingratitude” and “political opportunism,” pointing to his long association with the party before joining the faction led by Eknath Shinde, reported PTI.

The party alleged that Deora was attempting to discredit his former political base in a bid to demonstrate loyalty to his current leadership. It further claimed that the Congress had played a key role in shaping the political career and identity of the Deora family, reported PTI.

War of words escalates on social media

The exchange quickly escalated on social media, with the Congress using unusually sharp language to criticise Deora’s remarks. It accused him of spreading misinformation and questioned his motives behind targeting the party.

The statement also suggested that his comments were an attempt to gain political favour within his current party setup, rather than a reflection of facts.

Political tensions intensify in Maharashtra

The episode highlights growing tensions between the Congress and leaders who have switched sides in recent years, particularly in Maharashtra’s evolving political landscape.

(With inputs from PTI)