the goan I network
MARGAO
Congress stalwarts sat alongside each other to observe the 75th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, as they called for the strengthening of the grass-root workers and to prepare a road map to promote young leadership with winnability to face the next Assembly polls.
While Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat going to the extent of saying that biggest drawback of the Congress party is that the leaders tend to forget the workers after elections, former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro called for a road map to identify and promote young leadership ahead of the next elections. Another former Chief Minister Ravi Naik, however, cautioned the leaders to first stop pulling each others legs if the party wants to make a comeback in Goa.
The Opposition leader further urged the workers to gear up for the coming elections from tomorrow, saying that elections can come up before scheduled given the unpredictable nature of Goa’s politics.
In his address, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha said though the party workers had received an initial shock after 10 party MLAs quit the Congress, workers have now realised that though the MLAs have left, the people have remained with the party. “We may be down to five MLAs in the Legislative Assembly, but I am confident that Digambar Kamat and his team will rise to the occasion to protect the interest of the people of Goa,” he said, while taking potshots at the BJP for its decision on Article 370 without taking the people of the country into confidence.
In his spirited address, Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat said Congress party is in the hearts of the people of Goa, notwithstanding that MLAs have deserted the party. “But, the biggest drawback of the Congress party is that the party leaders tend to forget the workers. We want the workers only at the time of election, but we forget them after the polls,” he said, adding that a political party that is run on the strength of the workers will never be affected even if the leaders desert the organisation.
“Gear up for the elections. No one knows what lies in store for the State. Did anyone dream that yesterday’s MLAs will be Ministers today and those who were deputy Chief Ministers
will be just MLAs,” Kamat questioned.
Former Chief Minister and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro said the grassroot workers are the foundation of any political party, adding that parties win elections on the strength of the workers.
He made a plea to the party leadership to immediately set in motion the process to prepare a road map to build young leadership to take over the party reigns. “We should not wait for the elections. I tried to promote young leadership, but I had paucity of time. Today, you have full three years at your disposal to prepare a road map,” he said, while conceding that creating young leadership with winnability is the most difficult task before the party.
GPCC President Girish Chodankar hit out at the BJP for its failure to provide water for the people of two talukas for the last five days, saying while former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi brought about a technological revolution in the country, the BJP government in the State had no idea how to overcome the water crisis.
Former Union Minister Eduardo Faleiro, district Congress President Joe Dias also spoke. Former Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira along with party leaders Domnick Fernandes, M K Sheikh, Altinho Gomes, Subhash Faldesai, Mahila Congress chief Pratima Coutinho and others were seated on the dais.
