Milind Deora replaces Nirupam as Mumbai Congress chief

Mumbai: Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, The All-India Congress Committee on Monday announced Nirupam’s candidature from the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat, but replaced him with former Union minister Milind Deora as the grand old party’s Mumbai unit chief.

According to sources in the party, it was expected since last four months. “There were complaints about Mr Nirupam’s style of functioning before Congress president Rahul Gandhi and also general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge. The matter was very much under consideration,” a source said.

The source also claimed that Mr Nirupam’s removal amid poll season will not have any bearing on the prospects of the Congress in Mumbai, which has six parliamentary seats. “Rather, appointment of a fresh face (of Deora) as the city Congress chief will mean those who were not happy with Mr Nirupam’s style of functioning and were sitting at home will be out for campaigning now,” the source added.

In the 2014 election, Mr Nirupam had faced drubbing at the hands of BJP's Gopal Shetty in the Mumbai North constituency. Mr Nirupam had won the seat in the 2009 general elections.

The Congress had also suffered defeat in the February 2017 BMC election with Mr Nirupam at the helm and the party could win only 31 seats, 20 less than the 2012 polls.

On announcement of his candidature from the North West constituency, Mr Nirupam said he had been longing for 15 years to represent the people from the seat.