Gurudas Kamat resignation lays bare friction in Congress

After senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat’s resignation, infighting in the party has come out in the open with the party workers targeting the “outsider” Mumbai chief Sanjay Nirupam. Party sources, however, said that the infighting could be a result of the possible power change in the party wing in Delhi.

The party has been stressing on distributing more responsibilities among the younger leaders, thus changing Congress’ current party structure.

Mr Kamat said that he will be involved in social work and would be meeting his supporters every weekend. “Retiring from politics does not mean retiring from social work. I will continue to be available for the people without the party’s tag for whatever help or issues need to be taken up with different agencies, from this weekend,” he said after resigning from all the party posts.

Assuring that he respects the party high command, Mr Kamat said, “I would also like to emphasise that I have the highest respect and regard for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi and my resignation is purely on personal grounds.” Meanwhile, his supporters also held a protest demanding justice to their leader.

While Mr Nirupam was unavailable for comments, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that efforts would be made to pacify the senior Congress leader. “Senior party leaders would talk to Mr Kamat and try and understand his concerns. The BMC elections are coming closer and the party needs him,” Mr Chavan said.

Former MLA and supporter of Priya Dutt, Krishna Hegde has written to the party high command against ‘ad hoc’ appointments in the party, targeting Mr Nirupam. “I had written to the high command to keep on hold the appointment of block presidents by Mr Nirupam. Majority of the elected representatives were not consulted while deciding on these appointments,” said Mr Hegde. He further added, “My family has been associated with Mumbai Congress since 1965. Loyalists and effective senior leaders should be taken into confidence and given their due. The block presidents’ appointments should be put on hold and the leaders should work in cohesion. There should be a positive feeling among the party members before the BMC elections.”

Another MLA and Kamat supporter Rajhans Singh said that the party high command should seriously consider the infighting. “People coming from outside the party are given key posts,” he said without naming Mr Nirupam. The Congress Mumbai chief was in trouble a few months ago after a party mouthpiece printed a piece against Congress president Sonia Gandhi. However, instead of taking action against him, Rahul Gandhi stepped in to help Mr Nirupam which surprised Mr Kamat and his supporters.

However, a Congress MLA and senior Mumbai leader said that Mr Kamat’s resignation is more to do with the change of guards at the top. “Kamat’s resignation has little to do with Mr Nirupam. He has always been a bigger leader than Mr Nirupam. It is more to do with political happenings at the top party levels. There are plans to infuse fresh faces into the Congress as the party’s leadership may be given to Rahul Gandhi,” the MLA said on the condition of anonymity.