Congress expelled me after I resigned, claims Sanjay Nirupam

A file photo of former Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam.

Former MP Sanjay Nirupam on April 4 suggested that his expulsion was orchestrated shortly after he submitted his resignation letter to the party.

"Looks like, immediately after the party received my resignation letter last night, they decided to issue my expulsion. Good to see such promptness,” former Mumbai Congress chief Nirupam in a post on X said.

The Congress party expelled  Sanjay Nirupam on April 3 for 'indiscipline' and making repeated statements against the party. The action was taken against the 59-year-old leader due to his remarks against the party's leadership amid seat-sharing talks with ally Shiv Sena (UBT).

“Taking note of the complaints of indiscipline and anti-party statements, the Congress president [Mallikarjun Kharge] has approved the expulsion of Mr. Nirupam from the party for six years with immediate effect,” a statement issued by AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said.

Earlier in the day, the grand-old party removed Nirupam's name from the list of star campaigners. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole made this announcement after participating in a meeting of the party's campaign committee in Mumbai.

Nirupam, however, remained defiant and stated that he would reveal his position on April 4. In a mocking tone, he advised the Congress not to waste "stationery" due to its financial difficulties. “It should utilise the stationery and energy to save itself, as the party is experiencing a serious financial crisis. The time frame I had given to the party ends today. I will spell out my next course of action tomorrow,” he wrote on social media platform X.

After the meeting, Patole said that the party has removed Nirupam's name from the list of star campaigners, and disciplinary action has been initiated against him for his criticisms of the party and the state unit leadership. "A decision will be made in a day or two," he added.

On April 4, Nirupam, in a press conference also said that Congress is a party that has disintegrated structurally. "Earlier, there used to be one power center in the Congress, however, there are five power centers in the party. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, party president (Mallikarjun Kharge) and KC Venugopal - all have their own separate power centers and these lobbies keep exerting their power against each other," he said.

VIDEO | "Congress is a party that has disintegrated structurally. Earlier, there used to be one power center in the Congress, however, there are five power centers in the party. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, party president (Mallikarjun Kharge) and KC Venugopal -… pic.twitter.com/sjgHTMgDW3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 4, 2024

Nirupam, a former MP from Mumbai North, had criticised the state leadership of the Congress after the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, announced its candidates for four out of six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, including the Mumbai North West seat, which Nirupam aspired for.

The former Congress MP, who was aiming to contest the Mumbai North-West seat, expressed his unhappiness over the Sena (UBT) fielding Amol Kirtikar. The seat is currently represented by Amol Kirtikar’s father, Gajanan Kirtikar, who has since aligned with the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Nirupam had also asserted that the Congress leadership must not yield to pressure from the Shiv Sena (UBT). According to him, agreeing to the Shiv Sena (UBT's) independent decision to nominate candidates in Mumbai would essentially pave the way for the Congress's demise.