On Wednesday (27th March), Shiv Sena (UBT) released the first list of candidates for Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai without ‘accommodating enough seats for Congress’. As a result, the development has stirred a rebellion in the I.N.D.I.A. bloc and its alliance partner Congress. Adopting a rebellious approach, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam addressed a press conference to oppose UBT’s Mumbai North West candidate Amol Kirtikar.
Congress’ former Mumbai President Nirupam described Kirtikar as a “Khichdi Chor” candidate.
उत्तर पश्चिम मुंबईत तरुण नेतृत्व दमदार
— ShivSena – शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) March 27, 2024
जनतेनं ठरवलंय, अमोल कीर्तिकरच खासदार!@AmolGKirtikar pic.twitter.com/s6nD1IoVQc
Addressing the press conference in Hindi, Sanjay Nirupam said, “This morning Shiv Sena (UBT) has declared candidates on 4 seats of Mumbai and it will declare candidate on the 5th seat by tomorrow. They have given 1 seat to Congress as alms. I oppose this. I was involved in the seat negotiations between Shiv Sena and Congress. The UBT candidate from North West is accused of corruption. Uddhav Thackeray has made a Khichdi chor who did the Khichdi scam during the time of Covid his candidate. I declare that I will not work for such Khichdi chor candidate.”
#BREAKING | Congress slams UBT over Mumbai Northwest candidate
— Republic (@republic) March 27, 2024
Congress' Sanjay Nirupam calls UBT candidate Amol Kirtikar 'Khidchi Chor'#Maharashtra #Congress #UBT
Tune in here for more: https://t.co/JU7FOwLVG8 pic.twitter.com/U32Qs71RHl
According to reports, Nirupam had been seeking a Congress ticket from this constituency. However, in a hasty announcement, the party’s ally Shiv Sena UBT declared Kiritikar as an alliance candidate. Kirtikar is accused of irregularities in the distribution of ‘khichdi’ (porridge) to migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Congress leader Nirupam launched a scathing attack against the UBT candidate calling him ‘Khichid chor’, hours after the ED summoned him for questioning in the ‘Khichdi scam’ case.
#BREAKING | UBT's Amol Kirtikar summoned by ED #UBT #ED #AmolKirtikar
— Republic (@republic) March 27, 2024
Tune in here for more: https://t.co/JU7FOwLVG8 pic.twitter.com/sSDvrJRPfl
Nirupam said that with such developments, Congress is “burying” the party adding that it should break its alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT).
He said, “Shiv Sena should not take an extreme stand. This will cause a huge loss to Congress. I want to attract the attention of Congress leadership to intervene, if not then break the alliance to save the party. The decision of an alliance with Shiv Sena will prove self-destructive for Congress.”
#WATCH | After Shiv Sena (UBT) announces candidates for 5 Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, Maharashtra Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam says, "Shiv Sena should not take an extreme stand. This will cause a huge loss to Congress. I want to attract the attention of Congress leadership to… pic.twitter.com/5a1NsbYHV9
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2024
He gave a one-week ultimatum for the Congress leadership to rectify things. He warned the party that if they fail to do so, he had all his options open.
The rebellious Congress leader said, “I want to tell this to the top leadership (of Congress) that I will wait for a maximum of one week more and then will take a decision. All options are open for me, I am not in an option-less situation.”
VIDEO | Here's what Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) said during a press conference in Mumbai.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 27, 2024
"I want to tell this to the top leadership (of Congress) that I will wait for maximum one week more and then will take decision. All options are open for me, I am not… pic.twitter.com/uKeiDYZdEp
Following the announcement, Nirupam took to his official X handle to state that “friendly fight” would be his first option in case Congress leadership doesn’t pay heed to his advice.
First option is friendly fight.
— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) March 27, 2024
Leadership must take a call on this.
I am ready.#NorthWestMumbaiLoksabha
Reacting to Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam's statement, Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant says, "Who is he (Nirupam)? I don't know. There is discipline in our party. Once Uddhav Thackeray declares it (names of candidates) the matter is over." pic.twitter.com/BrVQOo7cvU
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2024
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant hit back at Nirupam for his remarks against his party. Sawant asked, “Who is he (Nirupam)? I don’t know. There is discipline in our party. Once Uddhav Thackeray declares it (names of candidates) the matter is over.”
The ongoing war of words over seat-sharing has further strained the I.N.D.I. alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
