NEW DELHI: Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Wednesday slammed his own party leadership for allowing Uddhav Thakeray-led Shiv Sena to grab most seats in Mumbai ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Nirupam also warned the Shiv Sena (UBT) for taking an ‘extreme stand’ hours after the party released its first list of candidates in Maharashtra, naming Amol Kiritkar from Mumbai North West parliamentary constituency.
The former Congress chief also suggested that the Congress party’s alliance with Sena might prove to be ‘self-destructive.’
“Shiv Sena should not take an extreme stand. This will cause a huge loss to Congress. I want to attract the attention of Congress leadership to intervene, if not then break the alliance to save the party. The decision of an alliance with Shiv Sena will prove self-destructive for Congress and its impact will be felt in Maharashtra and even beyond,” Nirupam said.
Coming down heavily on Maharashtra Congress, Nirupam said “The leadership isn’t bothered that injustice is being done to its leaders and workers. Shiv Sena (UBT) is making us bend and we are doing it.”
Nirupam, who is keen to contest the Mumbai North West parliamentary constituency, said the party leadership hasn’t got in touch with him in the last fortnight.
“The leadership isn’t bothered that injustice is being done to its leaders and workers. Shiv Sena (UBT) is making us bend and we are doing it,” he said.
Nirupam claimed that the Sena (UBT) had given the ticket in Mumbai North West to an accused in an alleged scam during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I will not campaign for such a candidate. Didn’t the congress leadership which speaks against corruption realise this,” he asked.
Speaking about his future course of action, Nirupam said, “Now all options are open for me. I will wait for one week and make my decision.”
He alleged that attempts are being made to “bury” the Congress in Mumbai and the party will pay a price for it. “I give my leaders a week’s time to decide,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Congress also objected to Shiv Sena (UBT) for announcing its candidates for the Bhiwandi, Mumbai South Central and Sangli Lok Sabha seats, saying MVA partners must stick to “coalition dharma”.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut shared a post on X announcing the list of the 17 candidates, namely for Raigad, Ratnagiri, Thane, Parbhani, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shirdi, South Mumbai, North West Mumbai, North East Mumbai, Sangli, Hingoli, Dharshiv, Nasik and Maval seats.
Nirupam also warned the Shiv Sena (UBT) for taking an ‘extreme stand’ hours after the party released its first list of candidates in Maharashtra, naming Amol Kiritkar from Mumbai North West parliamentary constituency.
The former Congress chief also suggested that the Congress party’s alliance with Sena might prove to be ‘self-destructive.’
“Shiv Sena should not take an extreme stand. This will cause a huge loss to Congress. I want to attract the attention of Congress leadership to intervene, if not then break the alliance to save the party. The decision of an alliance with Shiv Sena will prove self-destructive for Congress and its impact will be felt in Maharashtra and even beyond,” Nirupam said.
Coming down heavily on Maharashtra Congress, Nirupam said “The leadership isn’t bothered that injustice is being done to its leaders and workers. Shiv Sena (UBT) is making us bend and we are doing it.”
Nirupam, who is keen to contest the Mumbai North West parliamentary constituency, said the party leadership hasn’t got in touch with him in the last fortnight.
“The leadership isn’t bothered that injustice is being done to its leaders and workers. Shiv Sena (UBT) is making us bend and we are doing it,” he said.
Nirupam claimed that the Sena (UBT) had given the ticket in Mumbai North West to an accused in an alleged scam during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I will not campaign for such a candidate. Didn’t the congress leadership which speaks against corruption realise this,” he asked.
Speaking about his future course of action, Nirupam said, “Now all options are open for me. I will wait for one week and make my decision.”
He alleged that attempts are being made to “bury” the Congress in Mumbai and the party will pay a price for it. “I give my leaders a week’s time to decide,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Congress also objected to Shiv Sena (UBT) for announcing its candidates for the Bhiwandi, Mumbai South Central and Sangli Lok Sabha seats, saying MVA partners must stick to “coalition dharma”.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut shared a post on X announcing the list of the 17 candidates, namely for Raigad, Ratnagiri, Thane, Parbhani, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Shirdi, South Mumbai, North West Mumbai, North East Mumbai, Sangli, Hingoli, Dharshiv, Nasik and Maval seats.
