26 Sep 2021  |   05:58am IST

Voices of dissent grow in Congress

Former Panjim Mayor says there are enemies within Congress; Speaks of loyalists and seniors being sidelined

Team Herald

PANJIM: Voices of dissent continue to grow within the Goa unit of the Congress. On Saturday, a party executive member accused State Congress president Girish Chodankar of sidelining senior leaders in the decision making process and opined that the party president needs to work sincerely towards strengthening the party. 

Addressing media persons, former Panjim Mayor and Congress leader Surendra Furtado said that AICC Goa election in-charge P Chidambaram and Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao, have preferred not to act, despite several complaints. 

“Loyal and senior Congress leaders are being sidelined completely. The president is not taking anyone into confidence. Only two people are taking decisions. We are not even consulted or informed about anyone joining the party. We want our president to work hard and sincerely and not sideline the loyal and senior workers,” Furtado said. 

Furtado said that Chidambaram and Rao are aware about the growing resentment within th eparty but “they prefer to turn a blind eye”.

“We have told the high command that there are enemies within the Congress itself and we don’t need enemies from outside. It’s high time that the high command intervene before it’s too late,” he said. 

Earlier in the week, former MLA Agnelo Fernandes, spokesperson Adv Yatish Naik, general secretary Vijay Pai and Secretary Mario Pointo had raised their voices against the treatment meted out to senior leaders. They even claimed that the party is directionless.

Furtado said that it’s been almost ten months that the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) held its meeting. “We see new and new people joining the party… it is good… but we need to understand that they are political tourists… before their entry we need to be consulted,” he said. 

Furtado said that every loyal Congressman wants the party to perform well in the 2022 elections and form the next State government. “But we don’t see any moves in that direction. Systematic efforts are being made by one or two people against this,” he said.