The Congress has appointed Eknath Gaikwad as Acting President of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee, following Milind Deora's resignation. Mr Deora, 42, confirmed his resignation as president of theparty's Mumbai unit earlier today, conveying his "final" decision ina letter to Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Balasaheb Thorat. Inhis letter Mr Deora said he had also informed Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of theCongress in the 16th Lok Sabha, of his decision.

In its statement, the party said it "appreciates thecontribution" Milind Deora, who has earlier hinted at the possibility of amore central role in the party's leadership structure.

Mr Deora, who replaced Sanjay Nirupam as Mumbai Congresschief shortly before the 2019 Lok Sabha election, first announced hisresignation in July, after the party suffered an embarrassing rout in thenational election; the Congress won only 52 seats and was wiped out entirely inMumbai.

At that time, the party's Working Committee had yet toaccept his resignation or choose a new leader.

Today's resignation letter comes shortly before Assemblyelections in Maharashtra, where beating the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will be adifficult proposition for a Congress that won only 36 of 288 seats in the 2018polls. By comparison, the BJP won 124 seats and the Shiv Sena 61.

While announcing his resignation in July, Mr Deora hadhighlighted the challenges facing the Congress in Maharashtra.

He pointed out that the party needed to negate the impact ofthe Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, which secured around 40 lakhvotes in the general election, most of which came from Dalit and Muslimpockets.

The Congress has apparently heeded his words, with the partyconsidering a tie-up with the VBA.

In July, Milind Deora resigned after a meeting with formerCongress president Rahul Gandhi, who had, by then, also declared he wouldresign, sparking a desperate search for a new party president that ended lastmonth with former president Sonia Gandhi being handed temporary charge.

"I had accepted MRCC president-ship in the interest ofuniting the party. I felt I should also resign after meeting RahulGandhi," Mr Deora said at the time."I have suggested a three-memberpanel (to oversee the city party unit) and am being consulted by leaders toidentify names" he said. Mr Deora said, adding, "Needless to say, Iwill continue to guide and unite the Mumbai Congress".His decision invitedcriticism from Sanjay Nirupam, who questioned his motive.

"A resignation comes with a feeling of sacrifice. Buthere a moment later, a 'national-level' position is being sought. Is this aresignation or a ladder to climb up? The party should be cautious with such'hard-working' people," he tweeted in Hindi.