TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Newly-elected Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Luizinho Faleiro is mum on the fate of the blocks dissolved by John Fernandes, even as a difference of opinion has cropped up in the party on the question of action initiated by the outgoing GPCC chief against certain leaders for anti-party activities
Though it is still unclear how the new president will deal with the issue of suspension of leaders and the show-cause notices slapped on some leaders by the previous panel for anti-party activities, a section of leaders are believed to be of the opinion that leaders, who were involved in anti-party activities, should not go unpunished.
Faleiro, sources said, is treading a cautious path on this sensitive issue, as he has spoken seriously about discipline amongst the party cadre and leaders to strengthen and consolidate the organisation.
The new GPCC chief, it is learnt, is of the opinion that the party has a well laid down procedure on the question of dissolution of the blocks as well as the process of placing workers and leaders under suspension. Faleiro is believed to have told his close aides that the party should follow the norms when it comes to dissolving elected blocks. When Herald contacted Faleiro to shed light on the fate of the block panels dissolved by John Fernandes, he declined to comment on the matter, saying he is yet to take stock of the situation. Sources, however, said that the new GPCC Chief is expected to take a call on the decision to dissolve the blocks after formally assuming office next week.
Sources in the Congress said that Faleiro will be called upon to take a call on the question of the show-cause notices issued to party leaders for anti-party activities. A section of party leadership is of the opinion that the new guard should not revoke the suspensions or the show-cause notices just because they were initiated by the disciplinary panel constituted during the tenure of John Fernandes. Instead, this section of leadership feels that leaders, who had indulged in anti-party activities during the Lok Sabha polls, should face the penalty.
Incidentally, following the change of guard in the GPCC, suspended South Goa district Chief Subhash Faldesai has made his presence felt in the South Goa district office. Sources said the suspended district party president has not only made his presence felt in the district Congress office, but is believed to have contacted the district members and other Congressmen, informing them of Faleiro’s decision to formally take over the party reigns at the Congress House on October 14.
The South Goa district Congress office, which was found closed for three days as the clerk had gone on leave, has also started functioning, with the suspended district Congress president being a regular visitor to the office since the day the high command appointed Faleiro as the new party president.
