Rahul Gandhi steps in to resolve issues between Gurudas Kamat & Sanjay Nirupam

MUMBAI: AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi stepped in to resolve the factional infighting in Mumbai Congress by holding discussions with AICC General secretary Gurudas Kamat and Mumbai unit party president Sanjay Nirupam, a party office-bearer said here today.

The meeting between Kamat and Nirupam was held in New Delhi on Monday to iron out their "differences". Kamat, a former city unit president was upset with Nirupam over his style of functioning.

The office-bearer said that the meeting took place at the insistence of Rahul Gandhi. "It was decided that the city unit has to work together as the fight is with Sena-BJP and not within the party," he said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections will take place in February 2017.

In view of the resentment of his supporters with Nirupam's style of functioning, Kamat had slammed Nirupam for allegedly threatening Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta over the eviction of hawkers. Kamat had issued a statement saying that violence was not part of the Congress tradition.

Later, Kamat encouraged the party's frontal organisations to stage a massive morcha in front of city BJP president Ashish Shelar's home, barely a day after Nirupam had led a silent march to Hutatma Square in south Mumbai to protest the suspension of 25 Congress MPs.

The tug of war continued even on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on August 20, when Kamat supporters did not participate in the 'Sadbhavana Rally' organised by Nirupam.

Kamat and his loyalists paid tributes to Gandhi much before Nirupam could reach the venue and left without waiting for the city party chief.