Herald: You are the senior most party leader in the State and a two-time MP who led the party during the most difficult times. You were appointed at a time when the party faced a humiliating defeat in the 2012 State Assembly elections. Do you feel you managed to revive the party?
John: When Digvijay Singh, my friend and general secretary came to Goa on July 3, 2013, he requested me saying “What are you sitting and watching? The party has been finished in Goa. Can’t you do something for the party?” It was this appeal which touched me and I said I can do it and we can revive the party. So I said I have certain points to put before you, which I did later, for the revival of Congress party. He appreciated that stand and talked to UPA President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi… He told me go ahead. But when the Congressmen in Goa – I won’t call them dissidents – came to know that I am going to be appointed in July 2013, they opposed my appointment, which was deferred for six months.
The final appointment came on December 18, 2013 when I had heart to heart discussion with Rahul on December 16, 2013. He asked me as to how I am going to revive the party. The first thing I told him was that the Congress in Goa made a lot of mistakes and since people are hurt by Congress, let us accept and say sorry for those mistakes. Let us give assurance to the people that these mistakes will not be repeated in future.
Herald: What was your plan to revive the party when you took over?
John: I told Rahulji that there are corrupt Congressmen and corrupt elements within the party, and that we have to purge constant defectors within the party. We have to give a new face to Congress in Goa, infuse new blood and new elements… I was bringing discipline in the party and I knew vested interest within the party would have not have liked this. The new format by which I was taking forward the party was appreciated by Goans. The opposition party envied it. I carried on my mission. I will carry on my mission because I am still wanted by my high command. Whether I have a position or not, I will continue to work silently for the people of Goa as a Congressman in Goa.
Herald: The party organization always took second place to the MLAs earlier and there were leaders who were larger than the party. This caused a lot of resentment among the party workers. Have you done anything to remedy that?
John: Earlier, the party was considered to be one of the departments of the government. One minister even told me – you want me to summon your party president here like general public? If I was in his place I would have shown him his place.
They are not powerful. This is just a perception. I have told them, leave the party stand for elections. Narvekar, Churchill and Sardinha had stood for elections (as independents and lost). Let Rane also stand.
You know Rane has been blackmailing high command that if John is not removed then he will resign. But then I have carried on for three and a half months….
There are 40 tickets to be sold in Goa. But this time they will be disappointed. This time, it will not happen. All this fixing will not be repeated.
I have winning candidates even in Panjim. I will not indulge in fixing. The way you do fixing at the cost of the party is bad.
Earlier most of the blocks were filled by MLAs. Now in the blocks 75 percent equity is being held by the GPCC.
Most of the 9 MLAs will not get tickets including Rane. He told me on his birthday that he will not contest. But his son (Vishwajit) is trying to say that his wife will contest.
But that I will see. No chargesheeted person will get a ticket in Goa.
… Here (In Goa) there is no philosophy. Here there is philosophy of money, where you should differ on principles… It is basically for personal gain.
