MARGAO
The induction of new Congress members at the Fatorda block Committee turned out to be a damp squib on Thursday with only three members turning up to embrace the party.
That’s not all. For reasons unknown, senior party leaders were conspicuous by their absence when the trio was inducted at the South Goa district office on Thursday evening. Even the new entrant Mickky Pacheco, who was present at the South Goa district Congress office, left the building before the induction. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief Girish Chodankar, who was also holed up in the district office was also conspicuous by his absence when the three members Francis Xavier Fernandes, Valerian Rodrigues and Naznin Begum were inducted in the block.
When The Goan contacted Mickky to shed light on the induction episode, he said he preferred to leave the Congress office since the Congress High Command has put in place various committees to look after the work of strengthening the party. “I had taken charge of Fatorda block when responsibilities were not given by the party leadership to the leaders and panels. Since the party has now appointed leaders on various panels, it is their responsibility to take the process forward”, he said, adding “tomorrow, no one should say that Mickky is interfering in their affairs.
GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar said he could not share the dais with the block committee members at the time of induction of three members as he received a call from Party senior leader and Goa Election observer P Chidambaram around the same time. “I was busy discussing with Chidambaram his program during his three day visit to the state, beginning from Friday”, he said.
Incidentally, both Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat and newly-appointed Working President Alexio Sequeira were conspicuous by their absence, with a leader saying they were pre-occupied with meetings in the state capital.
Sources said Mickky is believed to have left the Congress district office after realizing that only three members are to be inducted in the Fatorda block committee. In fact, sources said Mickky was expecting an ex-Margao Municipal Councilor along with a candidate, who had lost the Civic polls to join the party along with their supporters, but in vain.
It was left for the Fatorda block in-charge, Dr Ashish Kamat, block working president Yogesh Nagvekar, Congress leaders Joe Dias, Everson Valles to welcome and induct the three members into the party fold.
The low-key induction program came as a setback and has come against the backdrop of high expectations amongst party sympathizers that the Congress would put its act together and re-build the party in Fatorda, which is presently represented by Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai.
Expectations were further raised after Mickky had insisted with party leaders on the presence of the Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat at the program to send a strong message to the party rank and file and well wishers that the party means business in Fatorda.
Local party workers, however, appeared disappointed over the turn of events and the absence of party leaders for the induction program, with a local leader saying the workers have again felt let down by the leaders.
