'Corrupt' leaders in Goa Congress want to oust me: PCC chief

Announcing that a few more leaders will be suspended for working against the party's interest, Goa Congress President John Fernandes today claimed some "corrupt" elements were out to dislodge him from his post. Addressing a press conference here, Fernandes said there are "corrupt" people within the Congress who are using their ill-gotten money to target him.
"But I will cleanse the party of corrupt leaders and those who want to have their family raj here," he asserted.

The leaders will be suspended from the Congress by tomorrow, he said, two days after suspending former Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira for "anti-party" activities. Fernandes said the Congress has already initiated disciplinary proceedings against several leaders accused of working against the party during the Lok Sabha polls, in which it lost both the seats in the state to BJP.

"Tomorrow we are suspending more leaders. I don't need to refer the suspension to the high command. The constitution of Congress party has empowered me to take the decision," Fernandes said.The Congress Goa chief said the corrupt party leaders have issued newspaper advertisements against him using their ill-gotten money. He also announced that the party will dissolve all the 40 block committees in Goa and reconstitute them by September. "We will be inducting genuine leaders at the block level," Fernandes added.