PANJIM: A strong anti-Shantaram Naik wave is emerging within the Congress in Goa, as party leaders in the State are not in favour of the former MP continuing as State unit president. This could trigger a leadership change in the party, whose organisational elections are currently in progress.
Besides, the party High Command is looking for a young energetic person to boost the morale of the party, which has been low since BJP managed to form a coalition government, despite having failed to get the people’s mandate.
Naik’s failure to hold the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) officer bearers meeting, lack of attendance for the PCC meetings and restrictions-cum-ban on party spokespersons from holding media interactions and exposing government, has upset party cadres. While Naik is lobbying hard to retain the post, he took on in July this year, ultimately it will be the elected PCC members who will resolve and nominate their new President.
“There is strong resentment against Naik in the party. The party workers have already taken up the matter with AICC secretary and Goa desk in-charge Dr Chella Kumar. The party is looking for a new and young face,” a senior Congress leader said. By November 15, it is likely that party will have new State President.
AICC Secretary Girish Chodankar is apparently the frontrunner for the post. His candidature is acceptable to the PCC as well as CLP members. However, Congress general secretary Adv Yatish Naik, is also learnt to be in the race, apart from former CM Francisco Sardinha and MK Shaikh.
Following the resignation of then party chief Luizinho Faleiro, Naik, the senior most leader, was appointed to lead the State unit. Naik’s appointment – though it came as surprise – was initially considered to be an effort to salvage the sinking Congress ship. However, it worked otherwise, as Congress lost both the by-elections under Naik’s leadership.
“Point out one issue that Naik has taken up against the government. Has he managed to expose the government on any front? PCC and CLP are not at all in sync. Naik just wants publicity and nothing beyond that. He is talking of national issues, which have no relevance to State politics. The party president needs to attack and counter the government on every misdeed,” an anguished Congress leader, on condition of anonymity, said.
CLP members are also upset following Naik’s statement that the action against their Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar is politically motivated. Kavlekar, who is being investigated for disproportionate assets and under Anti Gambling Act, had preferred not to make any political statement in the case and had also asked the party to avoid making such declarations. However, Naik went ahead and accused the government of targeting Kavlekar. He also alleged that party MLAs are being threatened by BJP to toe the saffron line.
Congress office bearers said that since Naik took over, only one meeting of the office bearers has taken place and that lasted hardly ten minutes. Also the PCC has met twice, once prior to the by-election and once after election, both saw a poor attendance.
What is more interesting is that, Naik’s only achievement in the last three months is that he has managed to get his wife Beena into party, by making her join the Mahila Congress.
