the goan I network
MARGAO
While the Navelim block committee headed by President Conceissao Piexote has settled for the GPCC president as the party candidate for Navelim, the Ponda block panel has unanimously recommended the name of Ravi for the ticket.
“There was no other name suggested or recommended by the Navelim block committee for the party ticket. All members present for the block meeting unanimously gave their approval to my suggestion recommending Faleiro’s name for the party ticket,” Navelim block Presidnet Piexote told The Goan.
What’s significant to note is the fact that while Faleiro has all along declined to disclose his plans for the ensuing election, the Navelim block gave an unanimous thumbs-up for his candidature, giving clear indications that the block panel has rallied behind the GPCC president. “The block will dispatch Faleiro’s name to the District Congress Committee as per the exercise launched by the party,” Piexote said. He, however, could not reply to a question when pointed out that the Navelim block has recommended Faleiro’s name for the party ticket when the GPCC president has still not disclosed his intention to contest the coming election.
Luizinho had represented Navelim for 27 long years since his first election to the Legislative Assembly in 1980 before his political innings was cut short by former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who defeated him in the 2007 election on the Save Goa Front banner.
In the meantime, South Goa District Congress Committee Chief Subhash Faldesai has told The Goan that the district Congress panel has received the lone name of former Chief Minister Ravi Naik for the Ponda seat. Ponda Congress in-charge Joe Dias also told The Goan that he has submitted his report to the district party chief on the decision of the Ponda block, unanimously favouring Ravi for Ponda. “When the block president had asked the members to suggest names for the party candidate for Ponda, only the lone name of Ravi Naik had emerged at the meeting. I have forwarded the recommendation of Ponda block panel to the District Congress Committee for further action,” Joe said.
The recommendation by the Navelim and Ponda block Committee in favour of Faleiro and Ravi respectively assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the demand in certain quarters in the party to give the party tickets to new faces and groom young blood in the party.
Besides Faleiro and Ravi, the Margao Block Congress Committee has recommended the name of former Chief Minister and five-time sitting MLA Digambar Kamat for the party ticket. The entire process is expected to be completed by July 31, before the district congress committee takes over the exercise before recommending names to the Pradesh Congress Committee for further action.
