Mumbai: Gurudas Kamat supporters put up a show of strength

While uncertainty continued over Congress leader Gurudas Kamat's resignation, he requested his supporters to stop protesting at the party office and not quit party posts and elected offices yesterday.

Kamat supporters protest against his resignation at the MRCC office yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The leader on Monday had said he was retiring from active politics as the party high command did not address his grievances. Next day, he stated that he respected the Gandhis and his resignation was purely for personal reasons. Sources said party president Sonia Gandhi talked to Kamat on Wednesday and this gave his supporters some hope. But Kamat was unreachable for a comment.

Show of strength
When some 1,000 Congressmen, including ex-MLAs, civic corporators and office-bearers, protested at Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) office, he issued a statement requesting his supporters to stop the protest and desist from resigning. Earlier in the day, some 25 BMC corporators had threatened to put in their papers. Following Kamat's missive, the agitation was wrapped up. Mumbai Congress vice-president Zakir Ahmed told mid-day that the leader was important to the party. "He (Kamat) is the senior most leader in the state Congress who we desperately need. We hope that he will honour our sentiments and take back his resignation."

Friction in party
Skirmishes with MRCC president Sanjay Nirupam's supporters, who too were present in the MRCC office, were avoided though tempers ran high in Kamat's group. Nirupam avoided going to the MRCC office when the agitation was on.