Disgruntled Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday hit out at party colleague Milind Deora, referring to him as a "nikamma" (useless), over the latter's absence from the rallies addressed by Rahul Gandhi in poll-bound Maharashtra on Sunday.
Nirupam, who was replaced by Deora as the Mumbai Congress chief just before the Lok Sabha polls, was also absent, but he said Rahul had already been informed about his prior commitments.
Dismissing the speculation about his future in the party, Nirupam said: "Speculations and suspicions about my absence in Rahul Gandhi's Mumbai rallies are meaningless. Due to an important family function, I was very busy whole day, rather till late night. Had informed him in advance."
"But why was Nikamma absent?" Nirupam asked.
Nirupam, further mentioned in his tweet, that Rahul is his leader.
Rahul had held two rallies in Mumbai -- one for Chandiwali candidate Naseem Khan and the other rally was for Dharavi Candidate Varsha Gaikwad, daughter of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) acting president Ekanath Gaikwad.
Just two weeks ago, Nirupama had expressed disappointment over the rejection of a name, suggested by him, for the ticket after which he decided not to campaign for the party in the upcoming polls. He had further said that "it seems the Congress party doesn't need him."
The grand old party has been battered by infighting, while its ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has seen a large number of its leaders defect to the ruling the BJP.
Single-phase polls in Maharashtra will be held on October 21 and results are scheduled to announce on October 24.
(With inputs from ANI)
