Goa Cong chief urges Rahul to relieve him of the post

The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Luizinho Faleiro has conveyed his unwillingness to continue as PCC president. In an hour-long meeting held with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Luizinho requested that he be relieved from the post.

Senior Congress personnel, who travelled with Luizinho to Delhi, confirmed that Faleiro has submitted four names as his probable successor.

"Rahul Gandhi is not in favour of the change in guard. He trusts Luizinho, and he doesn't want to relieve him due to pressure from some MLAs. But Faleiro has clearly told him that he doesn't wish to continue in the present circumstance," the senior Congress leader said on condition of anonymity.

Many of the legislators of the Congress do not want Faleiro as the state president. They feel that Congress will have a better chance of regime change in Goa if Faleiro is replaced. "If anyone feels that Congress can form the government in Goa if I step down as the PCC president, I have no hesitation in relinquishing the responsibility. In fact, I have asked that I be relieved of my position," said Faleiro.

Sources say Rahul Gandhi is not comfortable with trusting Congress MLAs in Goa above Luizinho. "Vishwajeet Rane quit the Congress and became a minister in the present government. Many MLAs would have done so if BJP had space to accommodate them. How can the Congress leadership take any decision going by their word?" said the senior Congress leader.

Faleiro has also suggested that the next state president should not be an MLA as the person can then focus fully on building organisation without pressure from his constituency or any political compulsions.