Herald: Let’s begin with a series of issues that the GPCC is beginning to bring to the table. One them is the very vexed Regional Plan which the BJP has kept on hold for three years, without de-notifying it. Herald has decided to relentlessly pursue this
Luizinho Faleiro: I have to not just congratulate but thank Herald for this. I have no hesitation in admitting that we in the party need to do the level of homework you do. We will take this up. We are very clear that if the BJP kept the RP of 2021 on hold in order to give Goa a better people centric plan, why are they shying away from their promises. I would also like to state that the plan which is still being considered is the one of 2001, which was brought in when Pratapsingh Rane was the chief minister. That was the best plan in those circumstances
Herald: But there appears to be a Rane line and the GPCC line as far as the Regional Plan is concerned. The leader of the opposition wants the suspended Regional plan to be cleared because he feels that a majority of the panchayats do not have an objection the plan (this premise is completely flawed) and the notified RP 2021 should be implanted there. The party line is different
LF: This assumption is completely incorrect. There is no difference between the party and the legislature party. Mr Rane is by far the tallest leader of the Congress in Goa and one of the tallest in the country. He was concerned that the planning process has been kept on hold for long and said it in that context. I also said that the RP 2001 introduced during Mr Rane’s leadership was the best. There is no wedge between the GPCC and the legislature wing. We will work together to highlight this. We have made a beginning by exposing what the BJP promised and how they have failed.
Herald: How can you begin a revival when the party structure is non- existent and defunct?
LF: I will be very frank and admit this much. The grass-root rung of the party has to be rebuilt completely. We did not even have block committees in place in many blocks and then there were no booth committees below. Many of these bodies had gone disbanded due to various reasons which I do not wish to go public with. They are now being rebuilt from scratch. A membership drive has been started with vigour and the first task is to enroll members in every booth area. It is not an easy task. Along with this, we will start the process of identifying leadership at every level, so that we create and develop people who can take the party forward both electorally and organizationally.
Herald: How confident are you, of winning the Panjim by-elections?
LF: These elections were unexpected and thrust on us. However since we will have to fight this, we will fight well. Our candidate is working hard and has started his door to door campaign. He is out meeting meeting people. At the same time, every MLA and senior leader of the party will be asked to pitch in. each of them will be given a cluster of booths to supervise so that senior leaders take ownership of these elections, which is a prestigious one for the party .
Herald: But the party has done little to curb indiscipline. You have the St Cruz MLA taunting his own party candidate and declaring open support to the BJP. You cannot speak of ensuring discipline and allow rampant anti- party activity by Babush Monserrate to go unchallenged
LF: No anti- party activity can go unchallenged. I had requested the AICC representative Chella Kumar to meet him. I have also asked Mr Rane as the leader of the legislature party t study this and make recommendations. The GPCC will step in when the time comes. There is still time. We are confident of finding a solution to this.
