Sanjay Nirupam & Gurudas Kamat supporters clash in Juhu

The rift between Congress’ Gurudas Kamat and Sanjay Nirupam widened as supporters of both the leaders clashed on Thursday in Juhu. The mediation by AICC observer and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda proved futile when his marathon meetings to bring the two leaders together did not yield any results.  

Earlier Hooda, Nirupam and Kamat had met at a hotel in Marol to negotiate talks but in vain. Hooda tried to bring Kamat and Nirupam together in yet another attempt at a Juhu Hotel. However, at a meeting held by the former Chief Minister Narayan Rane, Nirupam, Hooda and former Minister Naseem Khan, supporters of Kamat and Nirupam chanted slogans against each other. It led to heated exchange resulting in a scuffle and Nirupam supporter Arif Sayyad was beaten up by Kamat supporters. 

Gurudas Kamat had earlier alleged that Nirupam used to not take other leaders in confidence while running the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. 

A former Minister told DNA that not only Kamat but even the state unit president Ashok Chavan, many former Ministers and state unit office bearers were unhappy with Nirupam’s style of functioning.