There's a raging storm within the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra over seat sharing for the Lok Sabha elections. On one side, Shiv Sena (UBT) has declared its 17 candidates, while Prakash Ambedkar's party has decided on candidates for 9 seats. Consequently, rebellious tones are emerging within the Congress. Sanjay Nirupam, former Mumbai Congress President, has fiercely attacked the Sena's distribution of tickets and taken aim at his own party as well.
Sanjay Nirupam stated, 'This morning, Shiv Sena (UBT) declared its 4 Mumbai candidates and is expected to announce a fifth by tomorrow. One seat was condescendingly allocated to the Congress. I strongly oppose this. I was part of the discussions between Shiv Sena and Congress. The Sena's candidate for the Northwest is accused of corruption. During the COVID times, he was implicated in a khichdi scam, and such a khichdi thief has been made a candidate by Uddhav Thackeray. I hereby declare that I will not campaign for such a khichdi thief.'
Taking his own party to task, Nirupam said, 'The Congress leadership hasn't spoken to me in days. They haven't even asked for my opinion. Congress talks about justice at the national level but doesn't pay attention to its own people. I've been working in my area for years, yet the upper leadership didn't take notice and yielded before the Shiv Sena. I'm giving our leadership a week; if no decision is taken, then within a week I'll make my independent decision, and the fight will be decisive. The way Congress seats have been snatched and Congress people sidelined suggests a hidden agenda by Shiv Sena UBT could be to annihilate the Congress.'
In response to Nirupam's attack, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant commented, 'Who is SANJAY NIRUPAM? I am not aware.. Once Uddhav Thackeray has declared a seat, the discussion ends..' To this, Nirupam retorted, 'He doesn't know.. He has grown old. Arvind Sawat is suffering from memory loss. Congress had a voting base, and the Shiv Sena helped bury Congress in Mumbai. Our leadership has failed to protect Congress in Mumbai. Congress talks about justice in the country but doesn't even pay heed to its own.'
Uddhav appoints Amol Kolhe for the North-West Mumbai seat. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Amol Kolhe in connection with the COVID khichdi scam. Sources say ED officials called Kolhe today. The Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing had previously investigated Kolhe for the khichdi scam.
