Cong executive resolves not to give tickets to dissidents

TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Smarting under the drubbing it received in the Panjim by-polls, the State unit of the Congress party, which was once again rocked by dissidence, this time from its St Cruz MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, has declared that it will not nominate dissidents in the near future.
A resolution to this effect was passed by the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee executive committee that met under the presidentship of Luizinho Faleiro Monday afternoon to discuss the party’s debacle in the by-election.
“The executive committee has strongly condemned anti-party activities of all those party workers and has resolved not to grant ticket to these dissidents in the near future,” GPCC spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said.
The resolution was passed after a few executive members demanded action against the St Cruz MLA (Monserrate) for his anti-party statements ahead of the Panjim by-election, where he had announced his support to the BJP.
Addressing the media midway through the executive meeting, GPCC media cell chairman Ramakant Khalap said that the executive committee had also taken note of some party workers working against the party during the by-election.
“The MLA had made public statements supporting BJP. We have taken note of it and action will be taken accordingly,” Khalap declared, adding that action will run from temporary suspension to permanent expulsion from the party.
Monserrate, mentor of the Corporation of the City of Panaji ruling panel headed by Congress candidate Surendra Furtado, was the first to announce that he would contest from Panjim as an independent, before quietly walking away from the contest.
Monserrate then extended his support to the BJP, reportedly openly disclosing his plans to AICC secretary Dr A Chellakumar to work against the Congress candidate and ensure his defeat.
Khalap said that the executive committee has compiled a detailed report of the individual contribution of MLAs, senior party leaders, grassroots workers and others. “The people who worked would be rewarded. Those involved in anti-party activities would be punished,” Khalap claimed.
The senior Congressman said that with focus on the 2017 Assembly elections, the party is working to strengthen its organization.