The body of former Union minister and Congress leader Gurudas Kamat, who passed away in New Delhi, was brought to Mumbai late on Wednesday. The last rites will be performed at a crematorium near his residence in Chembur on Thursday, family members said.
Considered a party loyalist who was forever at odds with senior leaders save the Gandhis, Kamat had lately stayed out of the limelight after relieving himself of duties in the Gujarat and Karnataka elections.
Frequent resignations
During a public life of over 45 years, and a little less with Congress, the veteran leader had resigned from various positions on at least four occasions following differences with the high command. “Although a party loyalist, he repeatedly clashed with leaders of different hues, including Murli Deora, Ashok Gehlot and Sanjay Nirupam,” said a Congress leader. “He resigned as minister with independent charge of the Ministry of Sanitation after he felt betrayed by Ahmed Patel, who had promised him the Civil Aviation portfolio,” the leader said.
Colleague and former State health minister Suresh Shetty said Kamat was one of the tallest figures in the party, rising up from the lowest ranks. “We first worked together in youth Congress and then in the Mumbai Congress. Today, I have lost a friend and the party a true Congressmen,” Mr. Shetty told The Hindu .
A former Mumbai Congress president, Kamat was a Member of Parliament from the Mumbai North West constituency in 2009 and Mumbai North East constituency in 1984, 1991, 1998 and 2004. A lawyer by training, he also served as the minister of state for Home Affairs with additional charge of Communications and Information Technology from 2009 to 2011. In July 2011, he resigned as minister.
Party sources said Kamat had stayed away from electoral and administrative activities lately. Although considered a leader who could mobilise masses, in recent years he faced strong opposition from within the party ranks in Mumbai.
Clashes with Nirupam
He had constant disagreements with city unit president Sanjay Nirupam, and courted controversy after he blamed Mr. Nirupam for the party’s poor performance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections held in February 2017. “The dispute between the two factions remained unresolved until his last days and both accused each other of anti party-activities. It cost the party dear,” a senior Mumbai Congress leader said.
‘Sensitive politician’
Many who opposed his policies as minister point to his ability to reach out to factions across party lines. A popular anecdote says that when activist Medha Patkar was protesting one of Kamat’s administrative decisions, the Congress leader found out that the two had once shared a college classroom, and invited Ms. Patkar for a cup of tea.
Ms. Patkar, on behalf of the Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan Samiti, which had agitated many a times against Mr. Kamat’s policies and decisions, said, “He was a sensitive politician active towards the cause of the poor. He did not show off even while doing a lot of things for the urban poor of Mumbai. We offer our condolences, and hope politics will give the appropriate space to politicians of his stature. The party and people must think about it.”
Congress members expressed shock on Twitter at Kamat’s demise, with some followers blaming the Nirupam faction for “giving him grief” until his last days. “deeply saddened by terrible news of the demise of Shri Gurudas Kamat! I was in touch with him & he was not happy about he shabby treatement he got from Team Rahul! He felt outsiders like Sanjay Nirupam & some women spokespersons were promoted at cost of grassroot workers (sic),” said one tweet.
State Youth Congress chief Satyajeet Patil said Kamat’s demise was a personal loss for him. “Shocked ... My leader Gurudas Kamat is no more. It is my personal loss as well as unrepairable loss of Congress party (sic),” he said.
