Mumbai Congress leaders unite for BMC elections

Mumbai: Keeping aside internal differences, Mumbai Congress has geared up to work for the soon-to-be-declared Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Even miffed Congress leader Gurudas Kamat has started working for the party in his constituency while former MPs Priya Dutt and Milind Deora will be given specific responsibilities for the campaigning.

Mumbai Congress, led by Sanjay Nirupam, has brought in all the Congress leaders together ahead of the polls. Mr Nirupam held meetings with Congress leaders and MLAs from Mumbai to bring a new lease of life to the party after its defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. The MLAs and former ministers will be the star campaigners for the party. “We have held over 100 small meetings in various parts of the city to connect with various communities. Gurudas Kamatji even headed a few meetings. He is our star campaigner for the polls. Milind Deora has been made chief of campaigning committee while Priya Dutt is heading the manifesto committee. Every leader of ours will participate in campaigning,” Mr Nirupam said.   

Mr Kamat had been was miffed with the party and had even threatened to quit. His relations with Mr Nirupam are also not smooth. Ms Dutt and Mr Deora had distanced themselves from the party after losing the Lok Sabha polls. The leaders were not seen at major party meetings and programmes. With local leaders in Mumbai joining hands, sources in the party said the Delhi leaders would be called only on a few occasions. Congress is also trying to capitalise on people who have been affected by the state government’s demonetisation decision. The party is even concentrating on the newly carved wards where the Muslim population is more.