Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 25 : 42-year-old , former minister in Dr Manmohan Singh cabinet, son of late Congressman Murli Deora, has been appointed as new Mumbai Congress Committee chief on Monday, March 25 by party president Rahul Gandhi.
He will take over the job from controversial Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, who is now fighting Lok Sabha poll from Mumbai North-West constituency. Nirupam lost the 2014 election to Gopal Shetty, who hails from Mangaluru.
Milind Deora considered to be close aid of Rahul Gandhi who was instrumental in organising various foreign trips of Rahul Gandhi including the most successful one recent UAE trip.
Deora is married to Pooja Shetty from Mangaluru, daughter of Manmohan Shetty of Adlabs.
The development is being seen as a bid to quell the infighting within the Mumbai Congress, a month after Deora had hit out at the lack of unity in the Mumbai Congress under Nirupam’s leadership.
“Congress president Rahul Gandhi appointed Milind Deora as the new president of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. The party appreciates the contribution of outgoing president Sanjay Nirupam,” the Congress party said in a statement.
In his tweet Milind quoted that, Grateful to Sonia Gandhi ji and @RahulGandhi for giving me the opportunity to lead @INCMumbai. I commit myself to strengthening the party's roots in the city where it was born.
I look forward to working with all party leaders and thank @sanjaynirupam for his years of service.
It can be recalled that, In February, Deora, without naming Nirupam, had alleged that the Mumbai Congress had become “a cricket pitch of sectarian politics, with leaders pitted against one another” and even hinted at opting out of the Lok Sabha polls if the situation did not change.
Mounting another veiled offensive against Nirupam, Deora tweeted, “@INCINDIA is leading a powerful, united campaign across India. Infighting cannot, and should not, be allowed to threaten our base in Mumbai. I appeal to all Congress leaders in Mumbai to unite as a team. We owe this much to our party and to the Congress president.”