the goan I network
MARGAO
With as many as five party MLAs from South Goa led by the former Opposition Leader, Babu Kavlekar, having embraced the BJP, the Congress party is on the job to find out whether party functionaries, including block presidents, zilla members, and panchayat members have moved away from the party along with the defected leaders.
The move comes following reports that many prominent Congress leaders and workers of the Quepem and Canacona blocks have moved out of the party with the MLAs. As far as Salcete is concerned, the party leadership is trying to figure out whether any of the Nuvem block committee members have deserted the party.
It is learnt that the block president of Quepem Congress Committee Kushali Velip has been a close aide of MLA Babu Kavlekar.
Similarly, Zilla Panchayat member Kushali Velip has also been a strong supporter of the former opposition leader and now Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-led government. Sources informed that the District President Joe Dias has been entrusted the task of initiating action against all those who have joined the new party along with the five MLAs, after issuing the show-cause notice.
Sources in Congress circles informed that though the South Goa District President had convened a meeting of the district panel and block presidents on Saturday, many a member and block presidents from the constituencies were conspicuous by their absence. The district committee is also ascertaining whether any of the Congress leaders and workers from Velim constituency have switched sides and have gone with Filipe Neri Rodrigues into the BJP. Sources say the Congress leaders are scanning photographs that had appeared in the media after the swearing in ceremony. “The party will issue show-cause notices to the party leaders and workers who were seen with the MLAs at the swearing-in ceremony. Appropriate action will be taken only after receiving the replies from the block leaders and workers,” District President Joe Dias told The Goan on Sunday.
