Milind Deora takes over from Nirupam as city Congress head

Mumbai: Outgoing Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam said that he was handing over the crown of thorns of the Mumbai Congress to Milind Deora.

As he made this statement before party workers in the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) Thursday, the party workers replied that it was a crown of flowers and not one of thorns. Mr Nirupam said, “Ishwar karen ki phulon ka ho jaaye (May God convert it into a crown of flowers). I pray to God that all the thorns will be removed from the crown. May all the flowers remain for him.”   

While addressing party workers and rebutting Mr Nirupam, newly-appointed Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora said, “As Mr Nirupam has said that a crown of thorns was given to him, I too believe that accepting any post is a double-edged sword. Although I have accepted this position whole-heartedly, one day, I will have to give this post to someone else.”  

However, he also applauded Mr Nirupam for his contribution. Mr Deora said that the Congress party's aggressive stand over the past four years had been due to Mr Nirupam.  

The 42-year-old Cong-ress leader also said that he would not tolerate indiscipline in the party, and that “josh” should be maintained till the election.  

The Mumbai Congress chief said that they had requested party president Rahul Gandhi to give a ticket to Urmila Mato-ndkar from the north Mumbai seat. Mr Gandhi would take a decision in this regard soon. He also attacked the Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party in his speech.