Panjim: The Congress leaders in Goa have demanded for an overhaul of the State leadership and organizational changes at the top to take on the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government.
With Girish Chodankar tendering his resignation from the post of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief, which is, however, yet to be accepted, party senior leaders are pitching up for “effective leadership”.
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Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, MLA, Former GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro and MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco have made their stand clear before AICC Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao, that it’s high time the party consider a leadership change.
While sources say, Kamat has expressed his desire to take the lead, Lourenco said that he is ready to take guard, if given a chance.
During the recently held Zilla Panchayat (ZP) election, the party lost 33 out of the 37 seats it contested; winning only four.
This is considered as one of the worst performances by the Congress party in Goa, which had emerged as the single-largest party with 17 MLAs in the 2017 State assembly election.
Taking the responsibility of the defeat, Chodankar tendered his resignation from the post of GPCC president, last week.
Speaking to media persons, Gundu said that the party’s high command will take final decision on Chodankar’s resignation. “Success has got many fathers and failure is often…we need to be collective …all have to share the responsibility collectively and that should be the reality,” Rao said.
However, Rao also maintained that “new leaders have to be looked into….there are many people who are capable of leading the side”. He was reacting to media questions on whether Digambar Kamat and Luizinho Faleiro are in the race.
Sources informed that there is growing demand for change in leadership to take on BJP during the 2022 polls.
“We have hardly 12-14 months in hand. An effective leadership is the need of the hour. Chodankar can continue in the party with other responsibilities but we need a strong leader to take on,” sources said.
After meeting the AICC leader, Lourenco said “change is a must. Otherwise our voters will not get the confidence”.
He added that if given an opportunity, he is ready to take the responsibility and lead from the front. “The leadership change is the need of the hour. We need someone who will take all together and work,” he said.
Kamat, on the other hand said that the decision lies with the high command and he would not like to comment on it.
“I am not interested in anything. I can’t comment on the President post or anything,” he said.
