MUMBAI: A day after knocking at the doors of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge , a high-level delegation of the party has decided to call on Congress president Rahul Gandhi to press its demand for the removal of Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam On Sunday, a delegation comprising former ministers Naseem Khan, Kripashankar Singh and Bhai Jagtap had called on Kharge, who is in charge of Maharashtra , to demand the appointment of former minister Milind Deora in place of Nirupam. Another delegation led by Mumbai Congress general secretary Bhushan Patil had called on Kharge in support of Nirupam.Deora had taken the view that if senior leaders were unhappy with Nirupam, they had every right to express their grievances, while Nirupam had submitted that it was for the Congress president to decide how long he should continue in office.Supporters of Deora had brought to the notice of Kharge that Nirupam would not be able to lead the Congress to success in the elections to the Lok Sabha and state assembly scheduled next year, while Nirupam supporters pointed out that those who were not associated with the Congress party’s activities and were on their way to joining the BJP were demanding his (Nirupam’s) ouster.A senior Congress leader said that at a juncture when the Lok Sabha elections are a few months away, the ongoing infighting would turn out to be counterproductive, with the Congress having to pay a heavy price for it. “When the supporters and rivals of Nirupam met Kharge, it was his responsibility to warn the warring groups against growing factionalism,” the leader said.A few weeks ago, supporters of Deora had sought an appointment with Rahul Gandhi, who advised them to first submit their grievances to Kharge and then approach him. Apparently, since Kharge was non-committal on the removal of Nirupam, they have now decided to call on Rahul Gandhi to press their demand. “We have sought Rahul Gandhi’s appointment and we expect to meet him on September 19,” the Congress leader said.Meanwhile, Nirupam on Monday called on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to press the demand for reservation for SC and OBC members from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh in Maharashtra. Nirupam submitted to the CM that while SC and OBC members are entitled to reservation in their own states, when they seek reservation in jobs and education in Maharashtra, it is denied to them.

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