Shantaram Naik to be Goa Cong chief, Luizinho resigns

The present Rajya Sabha MP from Goa and senior Congressman, Shantaram Naik has been tipped to be the new Pradesh Congress Chief of the state. The announcement in expected early next week. Current PCC chief, Luizinho Faleiro tendered a fresh resignation again late on Friday night.

Sources in the Congress say the Congress high command is expected to accept Faleiro's resignation by Monday evening. Faleiro decided to resign afresh after a number of Congress MLAs threatened to quit the party if Faleiro is not removed from the post.

While taking a dig at senior leaders in the party, Faleiro stated: "We would have got 21 seats had it not been for the misjudgement and misguidance of some senior Congressmen," he wrote in his resignation letter.

He went on to criticise those seeking his removal from the post. "Now, these same leaders are claiming that they can form the government in the present scenario. We hope we can accomplish this claim. However, as some MLAs feel that my continuation is a hindrance to the formation of the government, I request you to relieve me of my responsibilities," he said.

Sources in the Congress say that former union law minister Ramakant Khalap and Shantaram Naik were shortlisted as a replacement for Luizinho and Congress President Sonia Gandhi has almost finalised Naik's name for the post.