North Indian factor fails to move voters
The BMC results have proved that Congress’s decision to exploit the North Indian factor did not work to its advantage.
The BMC results have proved that Congress’s decision to exploit the North Indian factor did not work to its advantage. The decision-makers in the party admit, in hindsight, that their move to continue Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) chief Kripashankar Singh in his post proved costly.
According to a senior leader in the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), “Shortly after chief minister Ashok Chavan was divested of his prime post, the party was considering overall changes at the organizational levels too.”
A section within the Congress had suggested that both MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre and MRCC chief Kripashankar Singh should be replaced to signal in new leadership in the Mumbai and Maharashtra Congress.
However, the Centre failed to take a decision. In the case of Singh, undoubtedly the North Indian face of the Congress in Mumbai, the central leaders feared it would invite backlash from the north Indians in the BMC.