SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Clinton D’Souza
Panjim: Time to unite Congress and defeat the BJP in the country says Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro. He said that his “dream is to bring the divided Congress family, that has always played a unifying role in the history of this country, back together to fight the forces of destruction. However, my commitment to Goa is paramount and I must take this step so that my dream to bring a new dawn for Goa can be realized”. Luizinho also added that Goa is fading, hence its time to bring a new dawn.
On Monday, MLA of Navelim and former Chief Minister of Goa Luizinho Faleiro announced that he would be resigning as the Congress MLA to effectively fight the divisive forces and work towards the betterment of the state. Over his 40-year career as an elected representative. He has appealed to the people of Goa to defeat divisive forces and bring a new dawn in Goa. Goa needs credible alternative and him quitting as MLA is a call from or unification of Congress, says former CM Luizinho Faleiro.
Luizinho further added that his dream is to bring the divided Congress family that has always played a unifying role in the history of this country to fight the forces of destruction. When questioned whether he will contest the coming Assembly polls, Luizinho said “I have not decided yet but definitely I will lead a movement in Goa and in the country”. His resignation as MLA and from Congress Partyis to fight divisive forces in the State.
Seven-term MLA from Navelim Constituency in South Goa and also served twice as the Chief Minister of Goa Luizinho Faleiro. Recollecting the journey to successfully achieving two defining aspirations of Goans - the recognition of the official language and securing statehood for the state, Faleiro thanked his constituents for electing him unopposed since 1989. In 1991, he was sworn in as the Labour Minister and had introduced an employment policy to secure 100% reservation in government jobs for Goans and 80% reservation in private sector jobs. At the same time, he was instrumental in passing several legislations for the protection of the environment, ecology, and trees. Mr Faleiro started off as an young activist and was elected as the Navelim MLA for the first time in 1979, and later went on to win the seat for six consecutive terms till 2003 elections. In 2007, he was handed a larger responsibility for the party at the national level and he played a key role in forming Congress governments in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur and later in Karnataka, as the Chairman of the Screening Committee. In 2017, he returned to lead the Congress during the Assembly elections and was re-elected for the record 7th time from Navelim constituency. When the results were declared, Mr Faleiro was instrumental in garnering support from 3 other elected MLAs and was poised to be sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Goa with a clear majority of 21 seats. The incumbent BJP CM and almost the entire cabinet had been defeated with a historic win for the INC in Goa ih 2017.
Mr Faleiro highlighted that he had insisted on submitting a letter to the Governor, in accordance with the AICC legal department’s advisory, to stake a claim to form a Congress led government. However, he was prevented from going to the governor by the AICC desk in charge and asked to wait till they had 24 MLAs, a decision that eventually cost the INC Government and allowed the BJP to steal the mandate. He reiterated that he felt dejected, shocked and utterly betrayed to let down the people of Goa who had entrusted us with their mandate. The next day after the announcement of results, when Mr Faleiro was duly elected as the leader of the CLP with 13 MLAs in his favour, he refrained from taking up the position as the INC had failed it’s people. Later, the General Secretary and other senior leaders tried to have him removed as GPCC President claiming that they would be able to form a government in 24 hours.
Mr Faleiro stated that he resigned as GPCC president while senior party leaders were indulged in backstabbing him. In a letter that he released today addressing his constituents, he said, “All along, in spite of thinking about resigning as MLA due to the betrayal of my people, I refused to let down the trust, support and faith of the people of Navelim, who had stood by me through all ups and downs. Throughout this period of four and half years I maintained a dignified silence in my suffering. I bore the pain but it was nothing in comparison to the pain of the people of Goa. From 18 MLAs, we have been reduced to just 5, an unmistakable dent in the history of our party.
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