Milind Deora denies rift within Cong, says party leaders will work together for Mumbai

Congress' Murli Milind Deora on Tuesday downplayed reports of a rift in the party over his appointment as Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief, replacing Sanjay Nirupam.

Speaking to media in Mumbai on Tuesday, Deora said, "There is no fight within the party. Everyone is together. We will make it a point during this and future elections to work together for the citizens of Mumbai."

When asked about the issues he will focus on, Deora said affordable housing in Mumbai is on the top of his agenda."In Mumbai, each and every person wants his own house. People living in slums or in rented accommodations want their own houses. I, with my party workers, will work on it," he added.

Deora also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not implementing the Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme and furthering unemployment by introducing demonetisation.

"Rahul Gandhi ji has promised that if voted to power he will implement Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme. It is unfortunate that in the past five years Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not do much for the people, instead introduced demonetisation leading to the rise in unemployment. We will implement this scheme in order to support the youths who have lost their jobs in the recent past," he noted.

The Congress on Monday replaced Sanjay Nirupam with Milind Deora as MRCC chief. Nirupam, meanwhile, was nominated as the party's candidate from the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency.