Keeping Lok Sabha polls in mind, Block and Booth level meetings planned in South Goa
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: After a virtual rout in the 2012 Assembly polls, the Congress is back to regain its lost ground in down South, with the 2014 Lok Sabha polls a few months away.
A high command-monitored exercise of reviving the party at the block and booth level has got underway. The party leadership, however, is faced with the often asked question ~ the fate of the heavyweights routed in the Assembly polls ~ especially in the light of cries in some quarters for promotion of new blood in the party fold.
Post-visit of AICC General Secretary Goa desk in-charge, Digvijay Singh, the state Congress has embarked on the exercise of rejuvenating the party at the grassroots. Block executive committee meetings are planned in the blocks every month. Party leaders associated with the exercise informed that observers appointed in-charge of the block are mandated to despatch details to each and every meeting to the district, state leadership and then to the high command. While this exercise is presently underway, the party is bracing up to appoint booth-level committee comprising of 10 members and above. Party sources said the booth level committees, once in place, will help the party reach out to the voters down the booth.
Says South Goa Congress district president, Subhash Faldesai: “These
block meetings of the executive committee will be held every month. We have appointed observers to ensure these meetings are held as per schedule. Action is contemplated against members failing to attend the meetings.”
The party, however, may be faced with the ticklish question of promoting new blood to play greater role in the party. While GPCC chief Subhash Shirodkar has said the question of tickets will arise only at the time of elections, young ticket aspirants in the party fold in private pose the same old question ~ whether the old guard will make way for the new blood in constituencies the party faced a drubbing in the last elections.
This question has assumed significance given that some of the party’s defeated candidates are slowly coming over ground post 2012 polls. Take the case of Velim constituency. The block executive committee meeting was held on Saturday at the residence of Filip Neri Rodrigues. It is learnt that another Congress heavyweight from Salcete is coordinating with the block to hold a similar meeting next week.
Subhash Faldesai says, “The agenda before the party right now is strengthening of the party at the grassroots. The issue of question of tickets will emerge on the eve of election. Both the old guard and the new blood should work for the party. The party has promised to reward workers for their work in party building. Message from the Congress top leadership is simple: Work for the party and they will be duly rewarded at the time of elections.”
