Amid growing discontent in Punjab and Rajasthan, the Congress in Mumbai is in turmoil, especially ahead of the crucial BMC elections that are slated for 2022. Cracks have surfaced in the city unit after party legislator from Bandra (E) Zeeshan Siddique dashed off a letter to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and party MP Rahul Gandhi, expressing serious displeasure over the style of functioning of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president Bhai Jagtap.
In his letter, Siddique complained that the city unit chief has excluded him from major party functions and threatened other workers that they would not get organizational responsibilities if they help him.
“It is my party president who is taking action against me. In my constituency, the event was held on behalf of the Congress, but despite being a local MLA, I was not invited. Bhai Jagtap had reportedly told the corporators and office bearers that he would not give a post in the party if they help my (Zeeshan Siddiqui) candidate in the Mumbai Youth Congress elections,” Siddique said.
Siddique has forwarded his letter also to Congress incharge of Maharashtra H K Patil, general secretary K C Venugopal and state unit president Nana Patole.
Siddique’s revolt against the city unit chief will further create more problems for the Congress which has repeatedly announced to go solo in the BMC elections, despite sharing power with the Sena and NCP in the state.
Siddique was elected from the Shiv Sena’s bastion after defeating the saffron party nominee Vishwanath Mahadeshwar in the 2019 assembly elections.