Former Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam hailed the leadership qualities of Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images] and expressed a desire to join the party.

"If I get a proposal from the Congress, I will consider," he told reporters in Ajmer. Gandhi was competent to lead the country, he told newspersons.

He criticised Sena chief Bal Thackeray's 'corporate politics'.

Nirupam recently quit the Shiv Sena and tendered his resignation to the Rajya Sabha over disputes with party leadership on the issue of alleged sale of Reliance [Get Quote] infocomm shares to people known to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan.

Nirupam was in the city on Saturday to offer chadar at the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Earlier reports:

I have broken ties with Hindutva: Nirupam

Mahajan refuses comment on Nirupam's resignation