No promotions, tickets for dissidents, says GPCC chief
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Goa Pradesh Congress executive committee has resolved to ban deserters from re-entering the party, labelling them as ‘habitual defectors’ and ‘fence-sitters.’ In another unanimous resolution adopted during the meeting on Monday, the Committee has decided to freeze promotions and deny election tickets to dissidents who abstained from campaigning for party candidates.
GPCC President John Fernandes said if needed, the dissidents could even be expelled. The resolution is a warning to Youth Congress leader Valanka Alemao and sitting MP Francisco Sardinha, both of whom refused to campaign for the party in Goa despite requests and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho for his anti-party activities.
“…those Congressmen who did not campaign and those who worked against the party by remaining in the party, should not be promoted in the party in any form, nor considered for any party ticket for any elections in future. If need be, these partymen should be expelled from the party permanently and not permitted to rejoin so as it will send the right signal to the defaulters,” the resolution reads.
The list of defaulters was, however, not released to media persons as Fernandes said the names will be referred to the disciplinary authority in New Delhi for further action. The dissidents will, nonetheless, be given an opportunity to clarify their stand.
“There are about four to five party defaulters whereas about six to seven deserters will not be allowed to re-enter,” Fernandes replied declining to disclose the names of defaulters.
The party chief revealed names of three deserters ~ Dayanand Narvekar, Churchill Alemao and Shallom Sardinha ~ who are permanently banned from re-entering the party. The upset trio had quit the party before Lok Sabha elections. While Narvekar formed Goa Democratic Party to contest against Congress’ north Goa candidate Ravi Naik, Churchill resigned to contest on Trinamool Congress ticket in South Goa against Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
Shallom had quit from the primary membership of the party after his father Francisco Sardinha was denied ticket to re-contest from South Goa seat. Congress’ Parliamentary Committee’s decision to give a chance to the new face Lourenco had upset many stalwarts.
“…those Congressmen who have left the party during this Lok Sabha elections, to work against the party as opponent candidates and campaigners, should never again be admitted in the party fold, as they are habitual defectors and fence-sitters, as this weakens the party and makes other Congressmen lose their morale,” reads the first resolution.
The Committee has implored the All India Congress Committee and party central leadership ‘to kindly abide by the sentiments and request.’
Fernandes had announced this decision before the LS polls in Goa on April 12 pending executive committee meeting.
