Mumbai Congress leaders complain of ‘organisational stagnancy’, target Gaikwad
Another leader said that the Mumbai unit of the party was lacking at organising cultural events that resonate with Mumbai and Maharashtra, especially the Marathi culture.
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Gaikwad said that as a woman and a Dalit leader, she is focused on building the party in Mumbai. (file photo)Even as parties are preparing for the upcoming local body elections, a section of Mumbai Congress leaders are targeting city unit chief and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad, alleging organisational stangnacy. However, the leaders who were to meet Ramesh Chennithala, AICC incharge of state unit, in Pune on Tuesday, postponed the meeting.
“We are not against any individual. We want to convey to the All India Congress Committee that there is organisational stangnacy in the Mumbai unit. We are not taking up the civic issues aggressively as compared to our ally Shiv Sena(UBT) and there is decline of the party’s presence from media as well,” said a senior Mumbai Congress leader who was to be in the delegation to meet Chennithala.
Another leader said that the Mumbai unit of the party was lacking at organising cultural events that resonate with Mumbai and Maharashtra, especially the Marathi culture. “We have nothing against the Mumbai Congress chief. But we certainly want the organisation to be more active,” he said.
However, Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad said that it was decided in the party leaders’ meeting in Delhi that she will remain the chief of Mumbai unit.
“I prefer to ignore these reports, which are nothing but gossip. Instead, I choose to focus on my work that involves opposing issues such as Adani land grab in Mumbai and corruption in BMC. I am sure that all my colleagues in the party will join me in the protests,” she told The Indian Express.
Gaikwad said that as a woman and a Dalit leader, she is focused on building the party in Mumbai.
However, this groupism in the party ahead of the local body polls comes as a rude shock to many workers who feel that the party should remain united to take on the BJP and its allies. There are others in the Mumbai unit feel that this groupism has existed in the party for decades.
“Every Mumbai Congress chief has faced this and it is not new. Varsha Gaikwad has been vocal against Adani for months. It is expected that all Mumbai Congress leaders join her in protests in Dharavi, Mulund and Kurla. Mumbai Congress leaders putting up a united front will surely make a difference,” said a Mumbai Congress leader, who said that he has chosen neither side.
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