Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam under fire after Gurudas Kamat's retirement

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam has come under fire from the party's senior leaders a day after heavyweight leader Gurudas Kamat announced his retirement from active politics.

Kamat's supporters believe that Nirupam is working systematically to clip their leader's wings though he has a clout over the party organisation in the city.

Former MLA from Mumbai's Vile Parle suburb, Krishna Hegde fired the first salvo at Nirupam. He criticised him for appointing block presidents without consulting senior leaders. "I had written to high command to hold the block presidents appointments done by Nirupam," Hegde said. "Majority of the elected representatives were not consulted in these appointments. Loyalists and effective senior leaders should be taken into confidence and given their dues. The party should have a positive feel before BMC elections," he added.

PLEADED TO RECONSIDER QUITTING

The Kamat's supporters gathered outside his house at Chembur and shouted slogans appealing to him to rethink his decision. Kamat has maintained that he has announced retirement from politics not public life. "Retiring from politics does not mean retiring from social life. I will continue to be available for people minus the party tag for whatever help or issues to be taken up with different agencies from this weekend," Kamat said.

A source in Congress said that Kamat was dejected after being sidelined the party matters. He wanted a bigger say in the party's affairs but the vice-president Rahul Gandhi put his weight behind Sanjay Nirupam, who joined Congress after defecting from Shiv Sena in 2007. "Kamat also hoped that he will be awarded a Rajya Sabha berth after the Congress did well in the local body elections in Gujarat under his leadership. The party, however, chose P Chidambaram for Rajya Sabha from the state," a Kamat loyalist said.

Another supporter said that the former Union minister of state for telecommunications was upset as Gandhi was cold to his idea on the party's growth in Mumbai. Kamat, however, denied that he had any grudges against the Gandhis. "I have the highest respect and regard for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi. My resignation is purely on personal grounds," he said.

Legislator Sanjay Dutt appealed Kamat to withdraw his resignation and reconsider quitting. "He is role model for party activists especially the youth. I am sure he will consider the appeal of the workers and withdraw his resignation," Dutt said.

Known as the Congress' angry young man Kamat has never shied in expressing his feelings. He had tendered his resignation from the Manmohan Singh government after Milind Deora, son of his arch rival Murli Deora was inducted in the ministry at a rank equivalent to his. "He has never rolled back any of his decisions. I don't think he will reconsider his retirement even if the high command speaks to him on the issue," the loyalist said.