With Ravi Naik elevated to No 2 position in the Digambar Kamat ministry, three defeated MLAs – Francisco Sardinha, Subhash Shirodkar and Luizinho Faleiro – are the prospective candidates for the post of President of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee.
Sources said that as per Congress policy of ‘one man one post’, Ravi will have to vacate the post of party presidentship. However, he will be asked to continue till his successor is appointed, sources said.
As moves are on for filling the post, Faleiro, Sardinha and Shirodkar have emerged as front-runners. Sardinha who lost to Reginald Lourenco in Curtorim is considered by the Congress as one who is acceptable to all the communities of Goa. Shirodkar who lost the Shiroda seat to BJP is a Bhandari Samaj leader while Faleiro is former president of GPCC.
Reports suggest that the appointment will take sometime, as the main priority now is to resolve the issue of ministerial berths and allocation of portfolios. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat is leaving for New Delhi on June 13 instead of 11 and the expansion will not be before June 14.
Related to this is Congress’ search for a party candidate for South Goa Lok Sabha elections. The seat is vacant following the resignation of Churchill Alemao who successfully contested the assembly election trouncing long-time minister Luizinho Faleiro in Navelim.
Election will be held within six months from the time the seat is vacated. Alemao resigned as MP on May 8.
-Herald, Goa Daily
