Factionalism surfaces in Mumbai Cong on ex-PM's birth anniv

Factionalism once again surfaced in Mumbai Congress on the occasion of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 71st birth anniversary today.
AICC General Secretary Gurudas Kamat, leaders, NSUI workers, women's wings of the party's city unit and district chiefs had gathered at Rajiv Gandhi's statue on Cooperage ground in South Mumbai this morning to pay their respects.
However, party's Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam organised a sadbhavana motorbike rally from Mahalaxmi Racecourse to Cooperage ground which was attended by senior leaders Kripashankar Singh, Bhai Jagtap, Amin Patel, Varsha Gaikwad and former MP Eknath Gaikwad.
A city unit office-bearer on the condition of anonymity said, "It is sad that Nirupam attempted to display a show of strength on Rajivji's birth anniversary. Everyone reached Cooperage at 9 AM as is the custom for the last several years. But Nirupam used the occasion for a show of strength".

Former MPs Milind Deora and Priya Dutt were conspicuous by their absence on the occasion.
At Tilak Bhavan, the state unit headquarters, office- bearers and workers offered floral tributes at the portrait of the late leader.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis administered the sadbhavana pledge to government staff and bureaucrats on the occasion which is observed as 'Sadbhavana Diwas'.
Earlier, the issue of eviction of hawkers in Mumbai had brought to fore the in-fighting in the city unit of Congress, with Kamat admonishing Nirupam publicly.
Nirupam had recently met Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ajoy Mehta to demand that the civic body withdraw orders to evict hawkers.

"The Commissioner rejected our demand and said the hawkers were free to move court. I warn that if hawkers are evicted, the BMC staff would get beaten," Nirupam had said.
However, Kamat had condemned the threat, saying it does not reflect the values and sentiments of the Congress.