Infighting in city Congress since 1980

Mumbai: There has been infighting in the Mumbai Congress ever since Murli Deora’s tenure in 1980. Factions have always arisen against the incumbent president. The situation has not changed even after three decades. The current Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam, who joined the party after quitting Shiv Sena, is considered an outsider and the chief complaint against him is that he is not a team leader.

It is also said that Mumbai congress unit is always directly reporting to Delhi leadership which most of the state leadership did not like, leading to problems between the state leadership and Mumbai congress chief.

The ex-Congress party leader, who doesn’t want to be identified, said that Bhaurao Patil, an MLA from Worli, and Baburao Bapse, a Member of Legislative Council, had challenged late Murli Deora, who was president in 1980s. As both leaders were blessed by western Maharashtra, Ramrao Adik and Barrister A.R. Antulay also troubled Mr Deora.

However, Mr Deora was sharing good rapport with the high command in Delhi, which helped him to rein the city unit more than two decades.

Meanwhile, Gurudas Kamat had managed to take over city unit in 2003. But Mr. Deora, who had complete control over South Mumbai and did not want any interference from Mr Kamat, also troubled him.

Similarly, late Sunil Dutt’s family had controlled Mumbai north central constituency. It is also said that Kripashankar Singh and Nasim Khan also did not share a cordial relationship with Mr Kamat during his tenure as city chief.