PANAJI/MAPUSA
Days after eight of its MLAs switched over to the BJP, the Congress on Tuesday appointed Yuri Alemao as its new legislature party leader in Goa.
“Congress President has appointed Yuri Alemao as Leader, Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Goa with immediate effect,” an official communication from the party said.
The Congress had earlier removed its former CLP leader Michael Lobo for alleged anti-party activities.
On September 14, MLAs Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Rajesh Phaldesai, Sankalp Amonkar, Rudolf Fernandes and Aleixo Sequeira joined the BJP after passing a resolution in a CLP meeting.
Welcoming Yuri’s appointment, Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira called for working as a team to rebuild the party.
Ferreira said he has accepted the decision of the central party leaders to appoint Yuri Alemao, as the new CLP leader and they will work to revive and rebuild the party in the State.
“We are three MLAs, so any one of us could have been appointed as CLP leader. We had met our party higher ups who had taken our views. I am happy that Yuri has been appointed as CLP leader. I congratulated him and told him that we will work together to revive the Congress party. We will do a good job given that all are together and all will remain together and will work together. Whatever the party has decided, I will always accept it,” he said.
Along with Alemao, the Aldona MLA was also in the race for the CLP leadership and was frontrunner for the post.
“It's not a matter of you and me. It's a matter of working as a team and rebuilding the party. In politics, one can expect many things. You may have aspirations and hopes, you may succeed or not,” he said.
He further said that Congress will look forward to fresh ideas from new people and with the guidance of the senior leaders will work to strengthen the party.
