Factionalism could hurt Cong in city

MUMBAI: Bickering between the detractors and the supporters of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief Sanjay Nirupam can hurt the prospects of the Congress party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leaders from Mumbai such as Naseem Khan, Baba Siddique, Amin Patel, Kripashankar Singh, and Eknath Gaikwad have sought Nirupam’s removal from the post. They want former Union minister Milind Deora to head the city unit. Similarly, Nirupam supporters say party leaders should unite to win maximum seats.

Though the Congress leadership appears reluctant to remove Nirupam, factionalism can hurt its prospects in 2019. Significantly, the ongoing bickering is also related to candidate selection for three Lok Sabha seats.

Senior Congress leaders met Mallikarjun Kharge, All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of the state, and demanded Nirupam’s ouster. They also sought a meeting with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

“The Mumbai Congress chief enjoyed a formidable position in the party. But after Murli Deora and Gurudas Kamat, their successors were unable to match them,” said a Congress leader. “There is no doubt Nirupam is aggressive, but he has not been able to connect with the Congress cadre in Mumbai. As a result, the party witnessed its worst performance in the BMC elections last year.”

Commenting on the issue, Milind Deora said, “Right from the time I have entered politics, I have always supported every Congress president and will continue to do so,” said Deora.

Nirupam said his detractors conveying their grievance to the media was wrong.

“They have committed an anti-party activity of which the party has taken serious note of. I have been appointed by Rahul Gandhi and will aggressively fight for Mumbai citizens till the time he wants me to,” said Nirupam.

Former member of Parliament Priya Dutt extended her support to Nirupam on Twitter. The bickering has also brought to the fore tussle for the three Lok Sabha constituencies. Mumbai north-west, which was represented by Kamat who died recently, has claimants like Nirupam and Kripashankar Singh. South-central seat, represented twice by Eknath Gaikwad, too has several takers.

Situation is the same for the north-central seat, which was represented by Priya Dutt. Sources said Naseem Khan and Kripashankar Singh are seen as the future candidates from this seat. Congress lost all five out of six Lok Sabha seats it had contested in 2014.