Wednesday, April 27 2005 09:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena yesterday (Apr 26, 2005) said Sanjay Nirupam would be a "liability" for the Congress, which he joined following his expulsion from the Shiv Sena.

"He (Nirupam) will be liability for the Congress," senior Sena leader Narayan Rane said when asked on the effect of Nirupam joining Congress.

Nirupam was on Monday (Apr 25, 2005) admitted into the Congress party in the presence of leaders of the Maharashtra unit in a low-key function in Mumbai.

On Nirupam's statement that he would divert the North Indian vote bank in the city towards Congress, Rane said, "The North-Indian vote bank in the city was not his property and the people would support the party that works for them."

The people have voted the Sena to power in BMC on the confidence on the party, he added.

Everyone is aware of the history of those who had left Sena in the past, Rane said adding the vote bank of the party has never gone with those who left the party.

Nirupam, who arrived in Mumbai after joining the Congress, received a warm welcome from his supporters at the airport.

Nirupam visited the Siddhivinayak Mandir, Haji Ali, Chaityabhoomi, Magdumbaba dargah and Mt Mary church soon after his arrival.