MARGAO: Congress leadership is virtually scouting for local leaders to put the block panels in place in Salcete in the ongoing block revamp exercise with party heavyweights either a sidelined lot or have run out of favour with the party scheme of things.
The Alemaos, Sardinhas and the Sequeiras are no longer calling the shots in the constitution of the block panels in their respective areas of influence this time round. Besides, even former ministers and present MLAs now enjoy the limited comfort of only recommending 20 names instead of the practice of stuffing the blocks with their cronies and aides.
Take the case of the Alemao clan. With Churchill Alemao no more in the Congress and daughter Valanka under suspension for anti-party activities, their supporters may not find a place in the Congress blocks in Navelim and Benaulim respectively. As already reported, only a single list of members, who are known Luizinho Faleiro’s supporters, including ex-block president Conceissao Piexote, has been forwarded to the GPCC for the Navelim block. In the case of Benaulim, the party leadership has received a list from Alemao’s long-time political rival and former Cavelossim Sarpanch Edwin Barretto. That the party no longer wants to rely on any single leader at the block level is evident by the fact that the leadership has also sought a list of members from another local leader, who is involved in Church activities, as evident in Benaulim.
The Alemaos are also unlikely to have their way in Cuncolim – once the fiefdom of two-time former MLA Joaquim Alemao. The GPCC is believed to have received a number of names from different groups in Cuncolim. Sources said the leadership is expected to induct Alemao’s supporters on the panel only after verifying whether they had worked for the party in the Lok Sabha poll.
As far as Curtorim is concerned, incumbent party MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has given his list for consideration of the GPCC. His rival Francisco Sardinha – who has come under scanner for anti-party activities – is virtually out of favour with the state leadership.
Similar is the situation in the Nuvem block. With heavyweight Aleixo Sequeira under suspension for anti-party activity, the leadership is scouting for second rung leaders to recommend names on the block.
In Velim, former minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues has been asked to restrict the names of his supporters to 20, with the party trying to obtain the remaining names from local leaders of influence.
Sources in the know said that only in the case of Navelim and Margao represented by MLA Digambar Kamat, the GPCC has received only a single list each, containing names for induction in the respective blocks.
A senior party leader, however, said the lists received from the general secretaries in charge of the blocks are not final. The GPCC leadership is expected to take a final call on the constitution of the block committees and the appointment of the presidents.
