Capping a day of fast-moving developments, the Congress has expelled Sanjay Nirupam, a senior chief from Maharashtra, for six years for his “anti-party statements”. Earlier on Wednesday, the occasion had eliminated him from the record of star campaigners for the Lok Sabha elections and sources had mentioned {that a} proposal to expel him was being ready by the state unit to be despatched to the central management.

The proposal was made after Mr Nirupam made a string of remarks in opposition to Congress’ INDIA ally, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and its chief Uddhav Thackeray after it introduced some candidates for the Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra – together with the North West Mumbai seat, which was reportedly being eyed by the Congress chief. 

Before that, he had additionally made remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the convenor of one other occasion ally, AAP, which weren’t in step with the Congress’ official stand. 

Announcing Mr Nirupam’s expulsion late on Wednesday, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal mentioned in an announcement, “Taking note of the complaints of indiscipline and anti-party statements, the Hon’ble Congress President has approved the expulsion of Shri Sanjay Nirupam from the party for six years with immediate effect.”

Earlier within the day, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole had mentioned, “We have taken him (Mr Nirupam) off the list of star campaigners and have also initiated disciplinary action against him over the statements he made.” 

After he was eliminated because the star campaigner, a defiant Mr Nirupam had hit out on the Congress and mentioned he would announce his subsequent plan of action on Thursday.

Personal Attacks

The Shiv Sena (UBT), which is within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra with the Congress and the NCP, had declared its record of 16 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections on March 27. The record included the title of Amol Kirtikar – son of the sitting MP – for the North West Mumbai seat, prompting a tirade from Mr Nirupam.

“The way Shiv Sena UBT has taken five seats of Mumbai, it seems that there is a plan to bury Congress in Mumbai. It seems the Shiv Sena wants to force Congress to kneel,” the senior Congress chief, who has been a Lok Sabha MP from the Mumbai North constituency, a Rajya Sabha MP and the Mumbai unit president of the occasion, mentioned. 

“I appeal to the Congress leadership to intervene or end the alliance with Shiv Sena. If the Shiv Sena thinks it can fight alone, it is making a big mistake,” he added.

Taking a dig at Uddhav Thackeray over the cut up within the Shiv Sena engineered by the present Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Mr Nirupam referred to as him the “bachi kuchi Shiv Sena pramukh (chief of what’s left of the Shiv Sena)”.

He additionally hit out at Mr Kirtikar, alleging that he was concerned within the ‘Khichdi rip-off’ – the alleged irregularities within the distribution of meals to migrant staff throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Mr Nirupam’s remarks had been seen as including to the seat-sharing troubles of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which is a part of the INDIA alliance on the Centre.

‘Will Announce Decision Tomorrow’

After he was faraway from the record of star campaigners, Mr Nirupam had alluded to the Congress’ accounts being frozen and mentioned it ought to utilise its stationery and power to avoid wasting itself.

In a publish on X, the chief wrote in Hindi, “The Congress party should not waste energy and stationery on me. It should utilise the stationery and energy to save itself since the party is experiencing a serious financial crisis. The timeframe I had given to the party ends today. I will spell out my next course of action tomorrow,” he tweeted.

The timeframe was a reference to his earlier feedback giving the Congress every week to determine on ending the alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT).

Should Mr Nirupam determine to modify sides, he’s more likely to be spoilt for selection as leaders from each the BJP and the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena have mentioned he could be welcome of their events.