Major shuffle expected in Goa Congress: LoP Yuri Alemao, GPCC President Amit Patkar to be replaced

NEW DELHI: According to reliable sources in the Indian National Congress, the high command is in favor of replacing the top helm of the leadership in Goa, including the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President, along with 2-3 others may be replaced in the near future.

On the sidelines of the recently concluded Congress Plenary Session held at Navaraipur in Chhattisgarh, which was attended by Congress leaders from all states, the leadership took note of the situation in Goa and the various complaints regarding non-performance and lackadaisical attitude by the local party leadership in Goa, which has ruled the state for several years.

Apparently a few Goans and Congress workers had complained to the high command about the almost dysfunctional unit of the GPCC in the coastal state and the same was discussed by the top leadership. Several emails were sent to the new Congress president complaining about the situation in Goa.

The top leadership was also very upset about the choice of candidates for the last Assembly polls in February 2022 and the almost immediate switch of several Congress MLAs within about a month including names like Sankalp Amonkar who were considered party loyalists.

The high command is also peeved about the decision of the local leadership to take in leaders like Michael Lobo, his wife and Kedar Naik and give them tickets, within weeks of joining the party.

It was decided to replace both the LoP and the GPCC President and the Congress leadership in Delhi is waiting for an opportune moment to do so. Even the State heads of all the frontal organizations like the Youth Congress, Seva Dal and Mahila Congress are likely to be replaced in the coming months, sources in Delhi said.

Sources said Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira is the top favourite or front-runner for the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, while several senior Congress leaders are being considered for the post of GPCC President, including former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes.

There is no confirmation as yet regarding the replacements, but several names are being discussed, sources said.