Mumbai Cong rallies behind Kamat on poll eve

Mumbai, Dec 20 (UNI) Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC), which is fighting a crucial battle to win the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for February 1 next year, has rubbished media reports of a rift in the party.

A section of the media had reported a rift among party leaders over the manifesto, AICC chief Sonia Gandhi's rally on December 23 and the upcoming polls.

The reports of non-coordination came after a cold response to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's meeting to discuss preparations for Saturday's rally. Only city unit President Gurudas Kamat and North Central Mumbai MP Eknath Gaikwad were present at the meeting.

Minister for Social Justice and De-Addiction Activities Chandrakant Handore, who is the Gaurdian Minister of Mumbai, said under the leadership of Gurudas Kamat, the entire city unit was jointly working for the success of the rally and the forthcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

''There are no differences among us and the MRCC has taken all the leaders, officebearers, legislators into confidence on all issues,'' he said adding he had despatched copies of letters written by all three ministers from Mumbai which includes himself, Suresh Shetty and Baba Siddique, MPs Eknath Gaikwad and Priya Dutt, all six district presidents of Mumbai and all district Youth Congress Presidents, Mumbai Mahila Congress Committee, Mumbai Seva Dal Committee, Mumbai NSUI, to AICC President Sonia Gandhi earlier this week, expressing solidarity with Mr Kamat.

Mr Eknath Gaikwad who was reportedly unhappy over his non-inclusion in the manifesto committee, in his letter said he had only mentioned he had not received communication pertaining to the meeting of the manifesto committee. ''But I found that infact I had been informed by letter dated November 23 about my inclusion as member of the committee,'' he explained.

Ms Priya Dutt wrote that the city unit leadership had suitably informed her about the planning and arrangements to be carried out for the rally. ''I am aware of the misleading news printed in newspapers, which are not true. We are all working together we assure you ma'am of a grand success in this rally,'' she added.

As many as 15 out of the total 16 party MLAs from the city and other officebearers have written similar three paragraph letters denying any kind of rift in the party and emphasised that all were working together under the leadership of Gurudas Kamat.

Mr Handore said, ''One disgruntled party member has attempted to create a rift within the party when none exists.'' When asked about the disgruntled member and whether this has been reported to the party high command, Mr Handore declined to comment.

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