TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: When Luizinho Faleiro formally took over the reigns of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) in Panjim on Tuesday, Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco headed to a starred resort in coastal Cavelossim to attend the concluding day of the two-day All India Whip’s conference.
Herald understands the deputy whip of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) had made a brief presence at the party function in Panjim to wish Luizinho, but preferred to drive down to Cavelossim instead of sharing the dais with the very leaders who were till recently accused for anti-party activities during the Lok Sabha poll. Reginaldo sought to defend his presence at the Whip’s conference instead of Luizinho Faleiro’s function citing his position as the CLP deputy whip. But, he has minced no words in telling all and sundry that the people of Goa are watching the party over the decision to invite on the dais the very leaders accused for anti-party activities. “People of Goa have been watching the Congress since the 2012 Assembly polls and the recent Lok Sabha poll. And, they are watching the party over the presence of the leaders facing disciplinary charges at Faleiro’s function,” Reginaldo said, while conveying a message loud and clear that he will always stand by the people of Goa.
The Curtorim MLA declined to further comment on the development in the party fold, but his camp is seething with anger over the presence of leaders such as Francisco Sardinha, who had asked his supporters to slap the Congress for denying his re-nomination for the South Goa seat.
That’s not all. The Reginaldo camp is unhappy with Tuesday’s development for the simple reason that the Curtorim MLA is a complainant against many a Congress leaders, including Sardinha, Aleixo Sequeira and district Congress president Subhash Faldesai for allegedly working against him in the Lok Sabha poll. “Reginaldo has been a victim of anti-party activities by some of these leaders in the Lok Sabha election. Some of these leaders, who shared the dais at Luizinho Faleiro’s formal induction ceremony, did not at all work for Reginaldo in the election. It is shocking that these very leaders earned a place on the dais,” remarked his close aide, while demanding to know whether the GPCC has taken any decision to revoke or declare null and void the disciplinary action initiated against the party leaders during the tenure of outgoing PCC chief John Fernandes.
In fact, the Reginaldo camp appeared shocked and completely taken aback when they found the suspended leaders and others facing show cause notices for anti-party activities prominently seated on the dais.
