If the Congress high command has given Sanjay Nirupam something that he has been desperately demanding, it has also taken away from him something he had been wanting to stick to during the Lok Sabha polls. Nirupam, who was given a ticket from Mumbai North-West against the wishes of a majority of the party leaders on Monday, was simultaneously removed from the Mumbai Congress chief's position. Former minister and Mumbai South candidate, Milind Deora has replaced Nirupam.

Sources said Deora had mounted pressure on the high command last week by suspending his poll campaign. He had travelled to Kolkata and from there went to New Delhi to meet the party bosses. He had previously taken an open stand against Nirupam. Almost every senior leader who doesn't owe allegiance to Nirupam, wanted the former Shiv Sainik's wicket. Nirupam's tenure was marred by some serious controversies, yet he managed to hold to the post all these years.