the goan I network
MARGAO
More than a decade after he had resorted to “Tapasya” (self-imposed political silence) on issues affecting the Congress party and the state as a whole, veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro is back again “ this time the Navelim MLA is on a Vanvas (political exile) by literally confining himself in his Navelim constituency.
The Navelim MLA, who had led the Congress party in the 2017 Assembly poll, skipped the Friday meeting of Congress Legislature Party (CLP). While Faleiro was conspicuous by his absence at the CLP meeting chaired by CLP Leader, Babu Kavlekar, the Navelim MLA was holed up at Navelim to attend a programme alongside BJP South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar. “I am on a Vanvas like Lord Ram had gone into exile in the Ramayana. I told CLP leader Babu Kavlekar about my inability to attend today’s CLP meeting given my pre-occupation in Navelim. But, I have conveyed my views on both the RP and mining issues”, Faleiro told The Goan.
The former Chief Minister is believed to have gone on a “Vanvas” soon after he stepped down from the post of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), when a group of Party MLAs, went to the town stating that Faleiro is the stumbling block for the return of the Congress government. Sources said Faleiro has not been seen much at Party events, except making a token presence here and there following the change in GPCC guard. “Some of these Party MLAs were saying that the Congress can form the government within 24 hours if Faleiro steps down as the GPCC Chief. Not just 24 hours, but several months have passed now, but the promised government is yet to take shape”, Faleiro said.
In the 2017 Assembly election, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party, winning 17 seats, but was edged out by the BJP to form the coalition government. “People of Goa had given the mandate to the Congress to form the government, but the mandate was “robbed” by some people. The Congress party had the support of 21 MLAs, including 17 party MLAs, NCP MLA Churchill Alemao and three Independents, enough to form the party-led government, but some of our own MLAs insisted that we should have 24 MLAs staking claim to form the government”, Faleiro recalled.
Contrary to the general perception that he was behind the Congress’ failure to cobble up the required numbers to form the Congress-led government, Faleiro said “the
LOOKING BACK: FALEIRO SPEAK
People had given the mandate to the Congress to form govt, but was ‘robbed’ by some
Congress had support of 21 MLAs, including 17 party MLAs, Churchill Alemao and three Independents
Some of our own MLAs insisted that we should have 24 MLAs before staking claim to form govt
Some MLAs said Congress can form govt within 24 hours if Faleiro steps down as GPCC chief.... not just 24 hours, several months have passed now
Had support of majority of elected MLAs in favour of my candidature for CM’s post
When ballots were opened in Hotel Mandovi on March 12, it had turned out that 12 of 17 MLAs had backed me for CM’s post
