Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee’s (GPCC) new President would be nominated only after Rahul Gandhi takes over the reins of the Indian National Congress (INC) which is likely after the upcoming Diwali festival.
The GPCC earlier this week resolved authorising INC president Sonia Gandhi to nominate the next State Chief and All India Congress Committee (AICC) members from Goa. It is now been learnt that the decision will be taken by Rahul Gandhi, post his elevation as INC President.
GPCC too has passed resolution requesting Rahul Gandhi to take over the Presidentship immediately from his mother Sonia.
Congress, according to the sources, has started wrapping up the process and work to select the state chiefs, members of central bodies and the president, but the names of all the State presidents would be announced after Diwali, when Sonia Gandhi has called for a meeting.
“Though, GPCC has passed the resolution, it is been communicated that the name of PCC chief would be announced only after change in INC leadership. With Rahul Gandhi taking over as INC president, party will see new and young faces heading the State’s,” a senior Congress leader said.
Sources said that the GPCC president may be nominated by November.
The Goa Congress has been sulking ever since the BJP, which won only 13 seats (now 14) in the 40-member Goa assembly in February 2017 election, piped it to stake claim overnight, with the support of smaller parties and independents. There has been a lot of heartburn and factional fighting within the party since then.
The sitting president former MP Shantaram Naik was appointed in June as temporary arrangement following resignation by then president Luizinho Faleiro. As there is strong resentment within party against Naik continuing as party chief, he is lobbying hard to retain the position.
The young AICC secretary Girish Chodankar and GPCC general secretary Adv Yatish Naik are the front runners for the post, as High Command is looking for new and young leadership at State level. “Rahul Gandhi is of the strong view that party needs young leaders to revamp it,” sources said.
Faleiro, who is betting for Yatish Naik, is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi coming week, to express gratitude for nominating him to represent INC at the 11th Frelimo Congress held at Mozambique, last month. He is expected to press for Yatish Naik’s leadership.
However, the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) members are lobbying for Chodankar, who was their contender against Manohar Parrikar for by-elections.
Former Chief Minister Ravi Naik, ex MP Francisco Sardinha and Congress vice President MK Shaikh are other contenders in fray for the post.
