Gurudas Kamat blames Sanjay Nirupam for civic poll debacle

Mumbai,The war of words between Mumbai Congress leaders refuses to ebb. Congress general secretary Gurudas Kamat has asked Sanjay Nirupam the  party Mumbai unit  president to hold a party executive meeting to decide who is responsible for the civic body elections debacle.  A press release issued by Mr Kamat’s office, challenged Mr Nirupam, asking him to call a meeting rather than briefing the media. In the press release, Mr Kamat’s office also accused Mr Nirupam of spreading falsehoods.

The press release further read, “Issues should be discussed in close door meeting or a big hall like Shanmukhananda in front of the party workers. The Congress workers must make up their minds rather than getting confused.”

After the debacle in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Mr Nirupam has pinned the blame on other senior leaders of the party. He even has said that the leaders worked against party’s interest just to destroy him. Expressing outrage over Mr Nirupam’s comment, former minister Narayan Rane called him “a leader who doesn’t even know the civic problems faced by the city.”

Mr Kamat has repeatedly criticised Mr Nirupam’s style of functioning. He has blamed Mr Nirupam and Maharashtra Congress in-charge Mohan Praklash for party’s debacle in the civic body polls. He had even taken up the matter with Congress high command. But despite his concerns, the Congress central leadership has not taken action against Mr Nirupam. After the poor performance in the civic body polls, Mr Nirupam had resigned from the post of Congress Mumbai unit chief on the day of results.