Sanjay Nirupam reiterates: ‘Situation in Congress has worsened, may quit’

"Those close to Rahul Gandhi are being systematically sidelined. In the last five months, the situation has worsened in the party," Nirupam said in a press conference in Lokhandwala's Baverly Hill.

Sanjay Nirupam, Sanjay Nirupam Congress, Sanjay Nirupam Mumbai Congress, Mumbai Congress, Maharashtra Assembly elections, Maharashtra polls, India news, Indian Express

Sanjay Nirupam said that he would be forced to leave the party if the situation does not change. (Twitter/Sanjay Nirupam)

Day after he took to Twitter threatening to stay away from upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, former Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam on Friday said “there is systematic conspiracy to remove those close to Rahul Gandhi from the Congress party” and that he may quit if the party high command does not react.

Nirupam had recommended four names for assembly seat of Versova, Goregaon, Dindoshi and Andheri East in a meeting in Delhi with AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge.

“I believe there must be a Muslim candidate from each district. They have a certain vote share… But none of my suggestions were taken. One seat was given to NCP, I wasn’t even referred for Goregaon,” Nirupam said, adding, “Even AICC general secretary can have bias. There is a systematic fault in Congress. The Congress president follows whatever AICC secretary says,” Nirupam alleged.

He added that several good candidates have been denied ticket to contest assembly elections in state. He added that except 3-4 seats, Congress stands a chance to lose all of 36 assembly seats in Mumbai. He said that Congress is not prepared to fight Maharashtra elections. “There is no planning, no strategy, no hoardings, no advertisements.”

In Versova, former MLA Baldev Khosa will contest on Congress ticket, while Jagdish Amin will contest from Andheri East. From Goregaon, Yuvraj Mohite will fight on Congress ticket.

Nirupam indicated that even former Maharashtra chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan is hurt by the politics in Delhi. He added that there remains no redressal mechanism. “I expressed my concern. Despite that, there remains no decision (by party high command). Then what is the point of talking to them again?” Nirupam said.

Blaming Congress leadership for sacking him from Mumbai President’s post, Nirupam maintained that he remained quiet for the party’s wellbeing and continued to do groundwork to revive the party. “But everyone has a tolerance limit. When the threshold crosses I have to speak out,” he said.

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He said that several party leaders are conspiring against Rahul Gandhi and are “systematically conspiring against those close to him”.

Nirupam served as party president of Mumbai for four years before being replaced by Milind Deora before Lok Sabha elections this year.