Mumbai: Keeping the forthcoming Assembly election in mind, Congress is now trying to connect with the north Indian community in Mumbai. The party’s Mumbai unit has sought help from north Indian organisations to organise an event on Sunday where community’s prominent faces will be felicitated.
Former state urban development minister Chandrakant Tripathi, former minister and ex-MP Ramesh Dubey and other prominent faces, including well-known linguist Ramji Tiwari, will be attending the event.
Interestingly, party’s established leaders from north, such as former Mumbai Congress presidents Sanjay Nirupam and Kripashankar Singh, have been kept out of this initiative.
When contacted, Mr Nirupam said that he was unaware of any such initiative undertaken by the party. “I am not even aware of it,” he said when asked if he will be attending the event.
Maharashtra Congress vice-president and deputy leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Nasim Khan said, “The party has decided to connect with all communities, including north Indians, who have been left out in the last five years. For this purpose, we are trying to collaborate with the north Indian institutions which are serving people.”
Manav Dharmacharan Samiti will organise the event to be held on Sunday evening at Asalpha. Founding president of the Samiti, Vidrohi Maharaj alias Shriniwas Tiwari said, “The event is being organised to felicitate prominent north Indian citizens, including Nasim Khan.”
Earlier, on 18 August 2019, Dr Ram Manohar Tripathi foundation had organised Uttar Bharatiya Maha Sammelan in Sakinaka which had marked the presence of many prominent north Indians including Mr Khan. Late Dr Tripathi was three-time state minister in Maharashtra and a well-known journalist.
The north Indian community has tilted towards the BJP since 2014 and the trend continued even in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The BJP had roped in cabinet ministers and deputy chief minister of UP to campaign before the Lok Sabha election.
Party believes that lack of support from north Indian voters is one of the major reasons behind the party’s poor performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
