Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst heavy lobbying for the post of State party president, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Monday unanimously resolved to authorise National President Sonia Gandhi to nominate the next Pradesh party chief, and a decision is expected within a fortnight.
The newly-elected members of the GPCC that met Monday evening also resolved to request party vice president Rahul Gandhi to accept the All India Congress Committee (AICC) presidentship.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, Pradesh Returning Officer (PRO) and Karnataka MP R Dhruvanarayana said the first general body meeting of the newly elected PCC unanimously resolved to authorise Sonia Gandhi to nominate the PCC State president and AICC members. The resolution was moved by assistant PRO Pankaj Punia and seconded by MLA Ravi Naik. “No names for the post of president were discussed. Soniaji will nominate the new president. The decision may come in next 15 days,” Dhruvanarayana said, when asked whether any names have been considered for the post.
It is learnt that current president Shantaram Naik is trying hard to retain the post, while young leaders like AICC secretary Girish Chodankar and GPCC general Secretary Yatish Naik are also in the fray, with Chodankar being the front runner. Former Chief Minister Ravi Naik, former MP Francisco Sardinha and PCC vice president MK Shaikh are also lobbying for the post.
Sources confirmed that Shantaram Naik is upset with the fact that the PCC decided to nominate the candidate rather than opting for an election. Naik, wanted an election for the post, and apparently expressed his anguish before the High Command, stating that it’s barely three month since he took over as party chief.
However, during the meeting on Monday, Naik maintained complete silence, though on Saturday and Sunday, he had lengthy discussions with Goa desk in charge Dr ChellaKumar and the PROs as well as with Rahul Gandhi, requesting that he should be given another opportunity to lead the party. “However, the High Command is not in favour. They are looking for a young and energetic face to boost the lost morale of the party cadres and to ensure a strong counter to the BJP-led coalition government,” sources said.
As per the procedure, the PCC, which consist of all past Chief Ministers, MPs and block committee members, nominates the President and recommends the name to the High Command for approval. In another resolution, moved by the Party President, the GPCC resolved to request Rahul Gandhi to accept the presidentship of the AICC immediately. The resolution was seconded by Shaikh.
