A day after being expelled from the party, former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam claimed on Thursday that the disciplinary action against him came following his resignation from the party’s primary membership.
In a social media post, the ex-MP from Mumbai North shared a screenshot of his resignation letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, stating that the party promptly decided to expel him upon receiving the letter.
“Looks like, immediately after the party received my resignation letter last night, they decided to issue my expulsion. Good to see such promptness. Just sharing this information. I will give a detailed statement today between 11.30 to 12 PM,” Nirupam wrote.
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In his letter to Kharge, Nirupam stated, “I have finally decided to fulfil your much-awaited desire and hereby announce that I choose to resign from the primary membership of All India Congress Committee. This communication may be considered as my resignation letter. Kindly acknowledge the same.”
Nirupam was expelled from Congress for “indiscipline” and “anti-party statements”, according to Congress general secretary KC Venugopal’s statement on Wednesday night.
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“Considering 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,” Venugopal said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Nirupam was removed from the Congress party’s list of star campaigners for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This move came in response to his recent criticism directed at the Congress’ INDIA bloc partner Shiv Sena, particularly amid discussions about seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
Shiv Sena (UBT) announced its candidate, Amot Kirtikar, for the Mumbai North West seat, which Nirupam had expressed keen interest in contesting. Nirupam, who previously served as the representative for Mumbai North in the 2009 Lok Sabha, condemned Shiv Sena’s decision to field candidates in Mumbai, alleging it was a deliberate effort to sideline the Congress.
Maharashtra is the second-largest contributor to the Lower House of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh, boasting 48 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured victory in 23 out of the 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 seats. Additionally, the undivided NCP, part of the opposition alliance, contested 19 seats and secured four victories.