'5 power centres in Congress': Sanjay Nirupam vents out after 'expulsion'

Nirupam, a former MP from Mumbai North, said he will contest the upcoming election Mumbai North West constituency and win

Sanjay Nirupam, who was expelled by the Congress on Wednesday, said that the party has disintegrated structurally. In a briefing after his expulsion, the former Congress leader said that currently there are five power centres in the party -- a situation which is completely different from the earlier times.

"Earlier, there used to be one power centre in the Congress, however, there are five power centres in the party now. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal - all have their own separate power centres and these lobbies keep exerting their power against each other," he said during a press conference in Mumbai.

The Maharashtra leader was expelled by Congress on April 3 for six years for indiscipline and making anti-party statements. The action against him came after the Maharashtra unit of the Congress initiated disciplinary action for his recent remarks targeting party ally and Maha Vikas Aghadi member Shiv Sena (UBT) in the state.

"Taking note of complaints of indiscipline and anti-party statements, Congress president (Mallikarjun Kharge) has approved the expulsion of Sanjay Nirupam from the party for six years with immediate effect," an official communication from the party said. Congress also dropped his name as a star campaigner.

Nirupam, a former MP from Mumbai North, said he will contest the upcoming election Mumbai North West constituency and win. "Those who are thinking to write (political) obituary of Sanjay Nirupam will be hugely disappointed on June 4," he said.

Earlier in the day, Nirpuam 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,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).