Congress a divided house as Maharashtra polls near; 'Nikamma' tweet is latest proof

Even as the Maharashtra assembly elections are merely days away, the Congress failed to present a united front as disgruntled party leader Sanjay Nirupam took a swipe at party colleague Milind Deora over the latter's absence from Rahul Gandhi's rally in Mumbai on Sunday.

In a tweet, in which he also cleared speculations over his absence from the rally, Nirupam said he was unable to attend it as he was busy with an important family function and had intimated to Rahul Gandhi about the same. Further, without taking Deora's name, Nirupam questioned his failure to be part of the event. "Speculations and suspicions about my absence in RG’s Mumbai rallies are meaningless. Due to an important family function I was very busy whole day,rather till late night. Had informed him in advance. He is my leader and he will be always the same for me. But why was Nikamma absent," he wrote.

Nirupam may not have named Deora, but it was abundantly clear who he was referring to with the word 'Nikamma' (useless). In the past, Nirupam had said, “Milind Deora is a nikamma and that man conspired to remove me (from the post of Mumbai Congress chief) and went on to accuse him of destroying the party.

Nirupam had openly rebelled against the party over ticket distribution and has decided not to campaign for its candidates. The Congress leader was offended after the party rejected a candidate whose name was proposed by him.

“It seems Congress Party doesn’t want my services anymore. I had recommended just one name in Mumbai for Assembly election. Heard that even that has been rejected. As I had told the leadership earlier, in that case I will not participate in poll campaign. Its my final decision,” he had tweeted.