PANJIM: As Congress struggles to come to terms with the fact that BJP has overtaken them in the government formation process, it faces another jolt as a group of MLAs-elect, led by Vishwajit Rane, expressed their resentment against the party high command for failing to decide the leader in time and hence losing the opportunity to form the government.
Not keen on sitting in the opposition for another five years, the MLAs are contemplating various options, including quitting the party.
MLA Vishwajit Rane, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Jennifer Monserrate, Dayanand Sopte and Francis Silveira held a meeting on Monday where they gave vent to their frustration on the party high command’s failure to decide the CLP leader and take forward the process to form the government.
While there is no clarity as to what actually transpired at the meeting, it is learnt that Rane is not happy with appointment of Chandrakant (Babu) Kavalekar as CLP leader. Monserrate and Silveira also raised their apprehensions.
“I am very upset with the way our party leaders handled the situation after the results, which made us the single largest party. I am upset with the functioning of the party leaders who could not take decisions at the right time. I might even think of resigning from the party at this stage. We have options open and the decision will be taken soon,” Rane told media persons.
Sources said that Rane met with CM-elect Manohar Parrikar late Sunday night, and discussions were held on the former and his group of MLAs entering the saffron party. The meeting lasted a few hours with Parrikar assuring Rane a position.
It is also learnt that Congress St Cruz MLA-elect Tony Fernandes may resign paving the way for Atanasio Monserrate to contest from the constituency, but not on a Congress ticket. “We had a meeting, but there is no such decision,” Fernandes, a very close associate of Monserrate said.
On the other hand, anguished Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate said the people will never trust Congress again and that the party has no future. “Whatever happened was miserable and horrible. People trusted us and brought us back to power. We were 17 but still could not form the government. This is shame,” she said.
“We are the laughing stock today. Congress is finished in Goa and it is never going to come back to power again, nobody will ever vote for Congress. My supporters have told me that they are no more with Congress,” the sole female MLA-elect from the party said. St Andre MLA-elect Francis Silveira remained unavailable for the comments.
Totally disappointed, Lourenco said, “I am very disturbed with the party which functions on whims and fancies of one person. The party’s failure has now led me to take some extreme step as I am not going to tolerate this. There is nothing worse than sitting in the opposition even after emerging as the single largest party.”
