Wants Rane ousted as CLP chief
accuse him of failing to stop MLAs from anti-party activities,
allege ‘match-fixing’ between Cong MLAs and BJP leaders
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Congress party’s humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha election has once again triggered revolt against the Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, with party cadres demanding change in the leadership of its legislative wing in Goa.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) is anguished against Rane for failing to restrain his legislators from indulging in anti-party activities.
While taking a collective responsibility of the party defeat, GPCC has demanded resignation of Rane, who failed to act as a strong opposition and to reach out to voters with the misdeeds of BJP-led government in the State. GPCC in its first ever meeting held after the poll debacle on Wednesday, gunned upon the failure of Rane and his team in strengthening Congress base in their constituencies.
The revolt comes almost seven months after Rane, who in October 2013 saw seven out of nine legislators rebelling against him. The issue was later settled down with the interference of AICC secretary A Chellakumar.
GPCC meeting that was chaired by senior vice president Moti Desai in absence of president John Fernandes resolved to put up before party president and high command the need for change in the leadership of its legislative wing.
Senior congressman, who was present at the meeting informed Herald that the GPCC, while hailing Fernandes for his efforts to revamp the party, expressed anger towards the party’s legislative wing. “The anti-party activities of the legislators during election campaign and post elections were very much visible that led to the party’s embarrassing defeat,” Congress leader said.
“It was very much clear from the poll result that none of the legislators worked for the party. They failed to give majority to Congress in their constituencies. There was undoubtedly a ‘match-fixing’ between legislators and BJP leaders,” Congress leader said pointing to some of the apprehensions raised during the meeting.
“It’s high time that party high command take stand and appoint new leader of opposition,” congressman said. The poll results were shocking for eight out of nine legislators, who failed to give party candidates lead for the LS election. Except for Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco constituency, BJP took lead in all other Congress dominated constituencies including that of senior Rane.
