TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Differences in the Congress were visible again as the barbs got more pointed and were aimed at party colleagues.
Still divided on the contentious issue of implementation the Regional Plan 2021, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Luizinho Faleiro cynically suggested that Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane should be in the Chief Minister’s chair, if the latter wants the RP implemented in its existing form.
Faleiro on Thursday said that the party is of the firm view that the BJP led government should deliver on its manifesto promise of de-notifying the existing land plan and drafting a fresh plan, in consultation with all stakeholders.
“The Congress executive that met Thursday morning has again resolved that BJP should fulfill its promise and de-notify the plan and draft a fresh plan,” Faleiro said when asked about Congress’ stand on implementation of RP.
Rane, who had urged the government to implement the existing land plan in case of those 174 village panchayats which have no objection to it, is a member of the GPCC executive committee. “If Rane wants the plan to be implemented in its existing format, then he should sit on the Chief Minister’s chair and implement it,” Faleiro said, after initially defending Rane’s earlier statement.
“Rane was the architect of 2001 Regional Plan, which was rightly accepted by the people of Goa. Rane actually meant to say that he wants the RP 2001 as the foundation,” the Congress president suggested.
While for the past three years Congress has been slamming the government over its failure to de-notify the RP 2021, Rane, earlier this month said that the government should go ahead with the existing plan and implement the same in the case of 174 village panchayats, which have not objected to it. “I have no idea what Congress has said but this is my view,” he had said on Monday.
Meanwhile, Congress MLAs, except for Rane, skipped the crucial meeting on Thursday morning to plan the party’s strategy for the Panjim by-poll. The meeting has appointed Rane as a campaign coordinator with each MLA in charge of certain polling booths.
When asked for the reason behind the absence of MLAs, Faleiro said, “Rane is representing the CLP.” On the other hand, Rane shot back at media saying, “They are busy in various tasks. You better go and ask them.”
There has been speculation that some CLP members are unhappy with Surendra Furtado’s candidature from Panjim. St Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate has openly announced that he would not support the Congress party and its candidate.
The executive committee meeting was chaired by All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Dr A Chellakumar.
