MAPUSA
While the Congress has been making attempts to provide an alternative to the electorate in Goa, it has faced challenges from within after some Congress block members in Bardez taluka openly rebelled against the party.
While in Siolim, the block president, Rajesh Kochrekar, along with two other Congressmen openly supported Vinod Palienkar of the Goa Forward Party, some Congress members of Saligao Block tendered their resignations to the GPCC president.
In Aldona, the block president, Freddy Fernandes has been openly supporting Independent candidate, Anandrao Nagvenkar, after the ticket was allotted to North Goa District Congress President, Amarnath Panjikar.
Siolim Congress Block President, Rajesh Kochrekar created a flutter late Sunday night when he attended the Goa Forward public meeting at Assagao and expressed his support to GFP’s candidate, Vinod Palienkar.
“Our main aim is to defeat BJP’s Dayanand Mandrekar. Congress first said it would fight the elections in alliance with GFP, but later withdrew. We have declared support our support to GFP’s candidate in Siolim,” Kochrekar admitted to The Goan.
Along with Kochrekar, former ZP member and Congressman, Deepak Dhargalkar and PCC member, Madhukar Dhagalkar have also supported Palienkar.
The Siolim Congress block chief said they had already made up their mind and would not change their decision.
“We are Congressmen. But we are not going to change our decision to support GFP candidate in Siolim, even if GPCC tells us,” Kochrekar said.
In Saligao, some of the Congress block members resigned as the party did not take them into confidence while taking key decisions related to the constituency.
“We have been actively involved in spreading Congress base in Saligao, but off late we have not been taken into confidence, making us feel unimportant. Hence, we have decided to resign from all memberships of Congress,” said the resignation letter addressed to GPCC president.
Accepting that he has been supporting an Independent candidate, Aldona, Congress block president, Freddy Fernandes said he was upset because chose to ignore him for the ticket.
Senior Congress leader and spokesman Trajano D’Mello said party leaders were seized of the matter and would take corrective steps soon.
“Our senior leaders are seized of the matter and within a day or two will take a call on the rebellion,” said Trajano D’Mello, spokesman of Congress.
