Urmila Quits Cong, Deora Says 'Mumbai North' Leaders Responsible

Actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar has resigned from the Congress party.

File photo of Urmila Matondkar.

(Photo: PTI)

After actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar resigned from the Congress party on Tuesday, 10 September, former Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora supported the decision saying that the leaders in Mumbai North must be held accountable.

Barely six months after she joined the Congress, Matondkar on Tuesday, 10 September, announced her resignation from the party, citing "petty in-house politics".

In a statement, Matondkar said that the key functionaries of the Mumbai Congress are either unable to or are not committed to transform the party, PTI reported.

“My political and social sensibilities refuse to allow vested interests in the party to use me as a means to fight petty in-house politics instead of working on a bigger goal in Mumbai Congress.”

Urmila Matondkar

Matondkar reportedly said the first thought of resignation came to her mind when she realised that "no action" was being taken despite her "repeated efforts" on her letter dated 16 May addressed to the then Mumbai Congress President Milind Deora.

In her letter, Matondkar had criticised the conduct of Sandesh Kondvilkar and Bhushan Patil, close associates of Sanjay Nirupam, a former Mumbai Congress president.

“Thereafter, to my utter dismay, the letter containing privileged and confidential communication was conveniently leaked to the media, which according to me was an act of a blatant betrayal. Needless to say, no one from the party was apologetic or even concerned towards me for the same despite my repeated protests.”

Urmila Matondkar, as quoted by PTI

Matondkar reportedly claimed that some of the persons named in her letter for the "shoddy performance" of the Congress in the Mumbai North contest were "rewarded with newer positions" instead of fixing responsibilities.

“It is obvious that the key functionaries of the Mumbai Congress are either unable or not committed to bring about a change and transformation in the organisation for betterment of the party.”

Urmila Matondkar

Matondkar, however, added that she stood by her "thoughts and ideologies" and will continue to work for the people "with honesty and dignity".

Matondkar’s announcement came as a huge embarrassment for the Congress which is struggling to keep its flock together ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, slated to be held in October.

An articulate and popular actress, Urmila had joined the Congress on 27 March this year and later contested the Mumbai North Lok Sabha elections unsuccessfully against BJP stalwart Gopal Shetty. She had bagged 2,41,431 votes across six segments of the Mumbai North seat, according to PTI.

Despite the debacle, she remained a high-profile leader who weathered many a storm including the resignation of Rahul Gandhi as Congress President, followed by a string of changes in the Mumbai Congress.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)