PANAJI
Young leaders took charge of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Monday, with a clear message and mandate that the party has to be led by the new generation even as Opposition Leader Michael Lobo appealed to leaders who had left the party to return to the Congress fold.
"Many Congress party leaders have left the party and felt that new parties would give them opportunities and they would take the party to a higher position. Many people are now agitated with the new parties. I appeal to these leaders to re-join the Congress and strengthen the party at grass roots,” said Lobo.
He said leaders like Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco have to take a call on returning to the Congress.
"Reginaldo has to take a decision and we will try and persuade him to join the Congress. He will be taken back with the same experience and seniority in the Congress,” said Lobo.
Earlier, the induction ceremony of newly appointed GPCC President Amit Patkar, Working President Yuri Alemao, District Presidents Viren Shirodkar and Savio D'Silva took place at Miramar.
"We are handing over responsibility to the new generation of Congress leaders in Goa. The younger generation has taken over and that is the right thing to do. Nearly 60 per cent of India is under the age of 40 years,” remarked AICC Senior Observer P Chidambaram during the induction ceremony.
“Remember that Pandit Nehru became the mayor of Allahabad at the age of 29. He became president of AICC at the age of 40.”
“I am sure the young team will lead the party outside and inside the house,” said Chidambaram, adding that he has been proud of the young team.
Chidambaram appealed to other young leaders having fire in their belly to lead the party.
“In fact, I want people in their thirties to lead the party. There are thousands of young people who will take over Congress,” said Chidambaram.
Chidambaram thanked outgoing GPCC president Girish Chodankar and former CLP leader Digambar Kamat for leading the party and for their support during elections.
AICC In-Charge Dinesh Gundu Rao, Opposition Leader Michael Lobo, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, former chief minister Digambar Kamat, Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequiera, former GPCC president Girish Chodankar, Prakash Rathod, Adv. Ramakant Khalap, Youth President Adv. Varad Mardolkar, Mahila President Bina Naik and Congress leaders were present on the occasion.
In his address, Kamat said ‘generation next’ is the future of Congress.
“Though the Congress has not been in power for the last 10 years, party workers who remained firm and worked with unity are the backbone of the party,” said Kamat.
Former GPCC President Girish Chodankar said he and Digambar Kamat had tried to give a fight in difficult times, as only one of the 17 MLAs elected on the Congress ticket in 2017 remained with the party and contested the 2022 elections.
“The Congress is moving in a new direction now,” said Chodankar.
