“Congress is Goa and Goa is Congress. Secularism, pluralism and all around development in the State has always happened only under Congress rule. We want our seniors, our fellow ex-Congressmen and others to come back and make Goa what it always was – Banagaracheam Goem,” Naik said.
It may also be recalled that Vasco constituency was sacrificed for NCP by Congress due to coalition compulsions in the past despite the fact that Congress had more presence than its then junior coalition partner. It was only in April 2016, that the Vasco block was reconstituted — after a gap of almost a decade and a half. Keeping up with the Congress’ nationwide trend of a younger and savvier leadership, the Vasco Block has an entirely young line-up of Congressmen led by Vishal Naik.
The block has since then not only been able to organize itself and get back into political reckoning but also held a few State level conventions especially for women and minorities.
This coming of age has of Vasco Block had recently led GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro to quip that Congress will be fielding its own candidate in Vasco.
Speaking of the new initiative, Naik says, “there has been a huge buzz and excitement generated by the swarming of educated youth as well people from different walks of life into Vasco Block in recent times. We have been contacted by many Congressmen who went over to BJP, NCP, MGP and AAP that they want to come back as they find this a totally different Congress and they want to be a part of it. We are excited to welcome them back”.
In over two decades, Vasco Block Congress has a fixed address for the first time and has opened its office at Maimollem-Vaddem junction in the heart of the city. The Block has reconstituted itself by setting up a dozen odd committees related to different issues besides having a well-defined Block Committee. “We have an active presence across Facebook, World Wide Web and other social networks too besides WhatsApp groups. No wonder then that the youth have been our greatest drivers,” Naik adds.
Significantly, Vasco Block has for the first time a key presence at the state level GPCC committees too and has been witnessing regular visits from Congress veterans ranging from GPCC President Faleiro to Leader of the Opposition Pratapsing Rane to former CM Francisco Sardinha amongst others, speaking of the Block’s growing clout at the state level.
