I took over on Sonia’s request: Shantaram

PANAJI rSitting Rajya Sabha member of Congress Shantaram Naik on Saturday formally took over the chair of the president of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee at a ceremony organized at the Congress House in Panaji. rSpeaking at his first press brief after assuming the new responsibility, Naik made his first political pitch when he stated, “We will not topple any government. It will fall on its own and then will not shirk our responsibility.” rThe senior Congressman, who hinted that the new role will be the last innings of his long political career, adopted a balanced and uncannily subdued stand on the growing talks of formation of a new Congress-led government. r“Toppling the government is not our priority right now,” he declared. rContrary to this was the opening line of former Chief Minsiter and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik who said, “Luizinho helped us touch 17. He knocked the doors of Goans on our behalf. Now, we hope Shantaram will do the work of forming a new Congress government.” rOutgoing GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro and Leader of Opposition Chandrakant “Babu” Kavalekar, both of whom refrained from making any political statements, congratulated the newly appointed GPCC president and wished him success during his tenure. r“I came here at the request of Sonia Gandhi. I was a reluctant PCC president. But my agenda was Congress party’s unity, consolidation and strengthening. While handing over charge to the most experienced person, I would like to reiterate on our manifesto promises which will be the guiding light,” Faleiro stated. rFaleiro also handed over the final sale deeds of state and two district office spaces to the new president. “We have paid the initial amounts and hope to enter new premises by December,” he informed. rInterestingly, with the exception of the allegedly ‘rebel’ Congress MLAs including Ravi Naik, Jennifer Monserrate, Tony Fernandes and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, no sitting MLAs of the party found time to remain present for the ceremony.