By: Express News ServiceMumbai | Updated: January 17, 2026 10:28 PM IST 2 min readFormer Mumbai Congress chief and party MLC Bhai Jagtap has been served a show-cause notice by the All India Congress Committee after he publicly criticised Mumbai Congress president and Lok Sabha MP Varsha Gaikwad, demanding her resignation over the party’s performance in the BMC elections.In the BMC polls, the Congress won 24 seats, seven fewer than its 2017 tally of 31. Holding Gaikwad responsible for the decline, Jagtap said, “The party was never in such a bad position ever. The condition of the party is extremely worrying and Delhi leadership must step in to salvage the situation.”He further alleged a leadership crisis within the city unit, stating, “Mumbai Congress is facing a leadership crisis. The organisation stands crumbled and the city chief has to take the responsibility. The Mumbai Congress chief must resign, taking the moral responsibility.” Jagtap also claimed that candidate selection in Mumbai was based on certain reports prepared by the Mumbai Congress chief, and therefore she must be held accountable for the outcome.Also Read | After landslide BMC win, BJP and Shinde-led Sena tussle over mayor’s postFollowing these public remarks, AICC Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala issued a show-cause notice to Jagtap, which was served by Mumbai Congress in-charge U B Venkatesh. “Your said statements, made in the public domain and circulated widely through electronic media, are in clear violation of the established norms, discipline, and ethical framework of the Indian National Congress. Matters relating to organizational functioning, leadership, and internal differences are required to be raised strictly within the party’s internal forums and not through public or media platforms,” the notice stated.The notice called upon Jagtap “to show cause within seven days from the receipt of this notice as to why disciplinary action should not be initiated against you for breach of party discipline and violation of party ethics, as per the Constitution and rules of the Indian National Congress.”It further warned that failure to submit a satisfactory reply within the stipulated time would compel the party to proceed further in the matter “as deemed appropriate, without any further reference to you.”Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:All India Congress CommitteeMaharashtra Congress