The Congress Party on Friday approved of former Lok Sabha MP Eknath Gaikwad’s appointment as the Acting President of the Mumbai Congress. In a letter, duly signed by AICC General Secretary, KC Venugopal, it has been mentioned that Gaikwad, a three-time MLA from Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, and a former minister in the Maharashtra government would replace Milind Deora, who had earlier resigned from the post of Mumbai party chief.
It also said, “The party appreciates the contribution of the outgoing president of MRCC, Milind Deora.”
The Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had earlier announced the appointment of Gaikwad as the working president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC). On July 26, Venugopal in a statement had said: “Hon’ble Congress President has approved the proposal for appointing Shri Eknath Gaikwad as the working president of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee.”
The letter signed by Venugopal then said that Gaikwad’s appointment has been approved by outgoing Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Soon after Gaikwad appointed as chief of MRCC, Milind Deora in a statement has said: “I wish E Gaikwad my best on his appointment as Working President of MRCC. He is one of Mumbai Congress’ most experienced leaders. I’m certain his experience and connect with people will be of great value to party in upcoming assembly elections and beyond.” He also hoped that party will also take a decision on the post of Mumbai Congress President at the earliest.
Milind Deora, who was appointed as Mumbai Congress president just weeks before the Lok Sabha polls had resigned from the post owing to the party’s loss in five of the six seats it contested in the city in the Lok Sabha polls. The post was lying vacant since then.
Ending a month-long drama, Rahul Gandhi had on July 3, publicly announced his resignation from the post of Congress President. He posted a self-contradictory, four-page letter on Twitter reiterating his decision to step down from the post of Congress president and also taking responsibility for the election results.
Before putting down his paper’s the Congress prince had expressed his angst over Congress leaders being nonchalant with the poll rout and not owning up the responsibility of the loss. Following this, mass-resignation had rocked the Congress Party. Many Party bigwigs like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Indian Youth Congress Chief, Keshav Chand Yadav had resigned from their respective posts taking responsibility of the poll debacle. Moreover, veteran leaders like Kamal Nath had also offered to resign from the post of the Chief Minister and that of the Chief of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
