Mumbai Congress in turmoil after worst BMC tally, calls for Varsha Gaikwad's resignation
Mumbai Congress in turmoil after worst BMC tally, calls for Varsha Gaikwad's resignation
After a historic low in BMC results, Mumbai Congress faces internal rifts as leaders push for Varsha Gaikwad's resignation and the party issues a showcause to Bhai Jagtap.
Mumbai Congress is facing a fresh round of internal turmoil after the party recorded its worst-ever tally in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, winning just 24 of 227 seats — down from 31 in 2017. This setback has sparked a leadership scrum within the city unit, with senior figures arguing that accountability at the top is warranted. The controversy centers on Varsha Gaikwad, the city president, who has come under pressure to quit on moral grounds in light of the results.
Bhai Jagtap, a former Mumbai Congress president and current MLC, publicly called for Gaikwad to step down, a move that underscored the fault lines within the party. The leadership, however, moved to deter dissent by issuing a showcause notice to Jagtap for indiscipline after his criticism and his demand for Gaikwad’s resignation. The show-cause notice signals a hard line against internal dissent while the broader leadership defends the election outcome.
Jagtap has claimed that tickets were distributed based on a survey, a claim he says he was unable to verify when requested. This accusation has fed the narrative of internal disarray and highlighted concerns about transparency in candidate selection, even as party spokespeople argue that the poor results were due to adverse circumstances and alleged misuse of power by rivals.
Party veterans and spokespersons have insisted that the focus must now shift to organizational strengthening and introspection, rather than blame games. With the BMC’s 227-seat council marking a historic low for the Congress, the leadership is signaling a commitment to reform as it tries to reclaim public confidence ahead of future elections.
The broader political climate in Mumbai remains tense, but party organizers stress that disciplined unity and a clear roadmap for renewal are essential if the Congress is to recover ground in the next civic cycles.
