MARGAO: The Congress leadership battle took an aggressive turn on Thursday as some office-bearers opposed any change, leading to altercations and scuffles between supporters of different camps.
Two scuffles broke out at the Congress workers meeting, in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao, who is in Goa to discuss party matters with the members.
The first altercation was between South Goa District Congress Committee president Joseph (Joe) Dias and member Usman Khan, who complained that he was not informed about the meeting. Khan got into an argument with Dias even as other office-bearers tried to pacify him.
Khan is learnt to be a staunch supporter of GPCC president Girish Chodankar and Dias is a loyalist of former minister Aleixo Sequeira, who is in the race for the party president’s post.
The second scuffle was triggered between GPCC vice president Sankalp Amonkar and North Goa District Congress Committee president Vijay Bhike, who got into an argument with the former for instigating North Goa block presidents to oppose the move to replace Chodankar.
The verbal altercation between the two turned into a scuffle outside the hotel room where Rao is staying, and the party leaders and members separated them.
During the day, office-bearers of various Congress committees supporting Chodankar said they don’t want a change in leadership in the State.
Rao met the office-bearers of the committees and heard their grievances and issues, besides suggestions pertaining to the forthcoming Assembly elections. All 40 Block Congress committees, including office-bearers of Mahila, Students, and Youth Congress met Rao separately.
Speaking to the media after meeting the Congress Goa in-charge, Congress vice president Amarnath Panjikar said, “I have conveyed my message that we are happy and strong enough under the leadership of State president Girish Chodankar. There is no topic concerning change in leadership in Goa.”
He added, “Yes, we need a change in Goa but it will be in government and not in the party organisation. The people of Goa are fed up with the BJP government. Hence, the visit of Rao will help us to make the change in government.”
Amonkar, said that Rao assured that he will put forth all the issues before the high command. “We have clearly said that we don’t want change in leadership in Goa. A few other office-bearers of the various committees also said that they have clearly conveyed the message not to change in the leadership.”
Mahila Congress president Beena Naik, speaking to the media said she has urged the AICC Goa in-charge to consider Mahila members with regard to giving an opportunity to contest the Assembly elections. “There are several women leaders in Goa, who are capable of taking charge, and hence representation should be given to Congress Mahila leaders in the next Assembly elections. We have tried our best to convince Rao about the same.”
Panjikar said that Rao has discussed and accepted suggestions regarding the next Assembly elections. “The aim of this meet and visit of Rao is only in view of election preparations and how to go about it. We have given suggestions on how to strengthen the party organisation,” he stated.
“We also suggested giving opportunities to new faces in the next Goa assembly elections,” Panjikar added.
