BMC Polls: Congress factions clash

Mumbai: Infighting in the Congress’ city unit doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon even after the party declared it first list of 115 candidates for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Alleging that Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam had the upper hand in selecting candidates, supporters of veteran party leader Gurudas Kamat held a protest. The top party leadership has given stay to some of the candidates’ names. Also, senior party leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has visited the city again to resolve the issue.

Anti-Nirupam Congress workers held a protest at a Juhu hotel on Wednesday night on Mr Hooda’s arrival. Later, on Thursday, Mr Hooda called Mr Nirupam and other Congress leaders to discuss the issue. During the meeting, supporters of Mr Nirupam and Mr Kamat clashed and shouted slogans against each other. The workers alleged that loyal party workers had not received tickets for the civic polls.

However, Mr Nirupam denied any such development. “There is no stay on the list. Some workers are miffed over not getting tickets and hence protested. I will soon release the first list,” Mr Nirupam said.

Mr Hooda also met Maharashtra state president Ashok Chavan to seek details of the ongoing situation of the BMC polls. Sources said that Congress’ final list would come late night on Thursday or on Friday, the last day of filing nominations. The sources said that the party’s parliamentary committee discussed Mumbai polls along with the Zilla Parishad polls. However, no consensus was reached.

Mr Nirupam has been targeted by Mr Kamat and his supporters for some time now. Mr Kamat recently also expressed his displeasure about Mr Nirupam’s leadership. Two of Congress leaders joined BJP, blaming Mr Nirupam for their exit. However, one of the leaders, sitting corporator Parminder Singh Bhamra, returned to the party within eight days.  Congress would be contesting polls alone for the BMC and has 52 corporators at present.