Source The Hindu
Mumbai, Jan 17: The results of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections have triggered sharp internal discord within the Congress, with a senior party leader demanding the resignation of Mumbai Congress chief and MP Varsha Gaikwad over the party’s poor performance.
Former Mumbai Congress president Bhai Jagtap on Friday said Gaikwad should step down on “moral grounds,” holding her responsible for the party’s dismal showing in the country’s richest civic body. He alleged that key decisions, including candidate selection, were taken without adequate consultation with local leaders and that feedback from the ground was ignored.
The Congress recorded one of its weakest performances in the BMC polls, managing to secure only a small number of seats, far below expectations and previous tallies. The outcome has intensified criticism of the party’s organisational strength and electoral strategy in Mumbai, where it has steadily lost ground over the past decade.
Jagtap also questioned the party’s approach to alliances and campaign planning, claiming that surveys used to finalise candidates were never shared with district leaders. He warned that unless accountability is fixed, the Congress risks further erosion of its urban base.
Party leaders, however, offered a mixed response. While some acknowledged the need for introspection, others defended Gaikwad, arguing that the results were influenced by a broader political realignment in Mumbai and the dominance of rival parties.
The controversy has exposed deep factional divisions within the Mumbai Congress unit and is expected to prompt a wider review of leadership and strategy as the party looks ahead to upcoming local and state-level elections in Maharashtra.
