the goan I network
MARGAO
Saying that it was unfortunate that the Congress could not form the government in Goa for reasons now known to everyone, AICC General Secretary Luizinho Faleiro on Wednesday asserted that Goans had given a mandate to the Congress as the single largest party, but the parties running the government now had managed to grab power through the backdoor.
And, he made it clear that people of Goa will give a decisive mandate in the event Assembly elections are held in 2019.
“In a democracy, it is the people who decide whom to elect. In 2017, Goans had given the mandate to the Congress as the single largest party. Those in the government did not get the mandate, but they managed to make a back-door entry. It’s now up to the people to decide as they know what is right and wrong,” he told the media on the
sidelines of a function
held to plant saplings on the road dividers at Navelim on Wednesday.
Saying that the challenge before him now is to build the Congress organization in the North Eastern states following his appointment as the AICC General Secretary in-charge of the North East, Faleiro said he had faced a similar situation in Goa when he was sent to the State by then Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the run up to the Assembly election.
“At that time, the Congress had just six MLAs in Goa, and some people had even predicted that the party tally will come down further. But, we managed to build the party and Goemkars were kind enough to empower us. But, unfortunately we could not form the government for reasons you are all aware of. In fact, I had declined to take up position as Leader of the Opposition though the votes were in my favour. For me, power is not important, but what is important is building the party. Organization is where my heart is,” he said, while admitting that building the party in the seven North Eastern states is a big challenge before him.
When the media questioned him about the possible outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Faleiro shot back, “The entire country is facing economic and financial sickness. In Goa, mining has stopped. Do you think people will vote for the people, who messed up the economy and ruined the lives of the common man?”
On his brief in the North East, Faleiro said he has told the Congress president that he will not be able to stay put in Delhi for long periods and has hence asked the party leadership to appoint seven secretaries, one secretary in each of the seven states.
“I will cover most of the states within a week’s time. I have promised to train the new secretaries so that they can shoulder more responsibilities in the future”.
He said the North East was not new to him as he had ensured electoral success for the Congress there during his stint in the region since 2007.
