Sanjay Nirupam Reiterates Threat to Quit Congress Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2019, Says 'Rahul Gandhi Loyalists Being Sidelined'
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Friday reiterated his threat to quit the party, alleging that a conspiracy is hatched to sideline Rahul Gandhi loyalists.
Mumbai, October 4: Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Friday reiterated his threat to quit the party, alleging that a conspiracy is hatched to sideline Rahul Gandhi loyalists. "I don't think I would want to leave the party but if the things within the party continue to be like this, then I don't think I can be in the party for long. I will not take part in the election campaign," sulking Sanjay Nirupam told a press conference. Milind Deora's Resignation on Expected Lines: Sanjay Nirupam.
"Those who worked closely with Rahul Gandhi are being deliberately sidelined. A similar thing happened with Ashok Tanwar and our Tripura state president," Nirupam said. Ashok Tanwar was recently replaced as Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja. Last month, Pradyot Deb Barman resigned as Congress President of Tripura over differences with the high command. Nirupam was removed as Congress's Mumbai unit chief ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Nirupam is miffed by Congress's decision of not giving the ticket to a candidate recommended by him. On Thursday, he said that he won't participate in the party's campaign for the Maharashtra assembly elections. "There are 36 seats in Mumbai and I had asked all senior leaders for one seat in my Lok Sabha constituency, and that I will give them one capable MLA, someone who had worked hard," Nirupam told ANI.
"And today I got to know that they are rejecting the name I had recommended. That implies the party does not need my services, and if the party does not need my services then it's better that I withdraw from the election campaign," he said. He also threatened to quit Congress. "It seems Congress Party doesn't want my services anymore. I had recommended just one name in Mumbai for Assembly election. Heard that even that has been rejected. As I had told the leadership earlier, in that case I will not participate in poll campaign. It is my final decision," he wrote on Twitter.
In another tweet, Nirupam said, "I hope that the day has not yet come to say goodbye to party. But the way leadership is behaving with me, it doesn't seem far away."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2019 12:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).