MARGAO
As the Congress hopes to return to power banking on its power house -- Salcete -- the leadership is on the job to put blocks in place in the party’s minority stronghold, keeping the heavyweights in good humour and juggling with local leaders and workers to keep the flock together ahead of the battle for 2022.
The party has almost completed the exercise of inducting presidents on all the eight blocks in Salcete, barring Benaulim and Fatorda. A close glance at the appointments of the block presidents reveals that the party heavyweights, including opposition leader Digambar Kamat, Congress veteran Luizinho Faleiro, party working president Aleixo Sequeira, former Minister Joaquim Alemao had their way in having their men to head the blocks. Three-time MLA Reginaldo Lourenco also had his way in having his nominee Terancio Fernandes inducted as the Curtorim block president. However, outgoing block president Milagres Fernandes is expected to return back to the saddle
MARGAO: Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat ensured the return of his close confidante GOPAL NAIK to the helm of the Margao block. Gopal, sources said, has been a loyalist of the Margao MLA over the years. He had in the recent past sounded a note of caution to the party leadership against ignoring the Opposition leader when top GPCC leaders were found wanting in defending Digambar from attacks by Cong-turned-BJP leaders. Sources said his induction as the block president perfectly fits in the scheme of things of the Opposition leader.
NAVELIM: The re-appointment of CONCEICAO PEIXOTE as the Navelim block Congress president was a foregone conclusion after the party had dissolved the blocks last month. Peixote has been a staunch loyalist of the Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro over the years. In fact, Peixote has been heading the Navelim Congress block for around two decades, thanks to the Navelim MLA. Even when Faleiro was away in Delhi for a decade for party work, Peixote was the man who led the Navelim block Congress.
NUVEM: Former MLA Alexio Sequeira has got his close aide MANUEL D’COSTA back at the helm of the Nuvem block Congress committee. Even before his induction as the working president, the party leadership had inducted Manuel as the Nuvem block president, indicating that Sequeira has had his way in Nuvem. It’s another matter that Manuel’s return did not go down well with new entrant and former Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco, indicating that the former Power Minister is back in Nuvem in the scheme of things.
CURTORIM: The appointment of the Curtorim block president gave some anxious moments for the party leadership. Sources informed that South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha had favoured status quo, insisting that outgoing president MILAGRES FERNANDES be retained to head the block. Three-time MLA Reginaldo Lourenco had recommended Terancio Fernandes as the new Curtorim block president, which was accepted by the party. To avoid any controversy, Reginaldo is believed to have told party leadership that he has no problem if Milagres is retained as the block president.
CUNCOLIM: The father-son duo of Joaquim and Yuri Alemao got their trusted aide ASSIZ NOROHNA back as the Cuncolim block president. Before the duo had joined the Congress last year, they had made it sure that Assiz heads the Cuncolim block committee. After the dissolution of the blocks, many had believed that new entrant Elvis Gomes will have his way in the appointment of a new president, but the party apparently decided not to disturb Assiz from the post.
VELIM: Velim Panch member VEENA CARDOZO is the new president of the Velim block Congress committee. Sources in the know said the party leadership has appointed Veena to the top post despite reservations expressed by the Savio D’Silva camp. Former Independent MLA Benjamin D’Silva’s camp has welcomed Veena’s appointment. And, so has South Goa district Congress Chief Joe Dias. As of now, Savio, Joe and Benjamin have emerged as contenders for the Congress Velim ticket.
THE ACTION AIN’T OVER HERE
The appointment of presidents to head the Benaulim and Fatorda Congress block committees has come under sharp focus. Party leadership informed that leaders are on the job to constitute the two blocks, which are presently represented by the NCP and Goa Forward party in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Party leaders say the party will strengthen these two blocks irrespective of the decision on the question of stitching alliances with these two parties
BENAULIM: Sources informed that former Minister Mickky Pacheco, who had joined the Congress only recently, is very much keen to have his man head the block committee. Mickky, who has set his eyes on Benaulim, is expected to have his man inducted on the block Committee.
On the other hand, South Goa district Congress chief Joe Dias has been told by the leadership to scout for a suitable candidate to head the Benaulim block.
FATORDA: This is one constituency, local workers say has been a neglected lot by the party leadership over the years. Against the backdrop of charges that Fatorda workers have been left to fend for themselves for want of support from party leaders, the focus is back again on the leadership how to go about in reconstituting the block. Incidentally, Fatorda is perhaps the lone block which had a working president appointed by the leadership. Last month, block president Piedade Norohna had quit the party to embrace the BJP. Fatorda is the home constituency of GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar. And, it is the constituency where South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha had secured a lead in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
