Luizinho resigns as GPCC chief NT Staff Reporter Panaji April 26: The all-India Congress committee president, Ms Sonia Gandhi has accepted the resignation of the Goa pradesh Congress committee president, Mr Luizinho Faleiro. No successor has been appointed so far by the Congress high command.
The announcement of acceptance of the resignation of Mr Faleiro, which had been submitted on February 4, 2004 soon after the Congress led-government was sworn in following dismissal of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, was made by the AICC spokesman, Mr Anand Sharma this afternoon in the national capital. Mr Faleiro told The Navhind Times the acceptance of resignation did not come to him as a surprise as he had resigned on his own after being inducted as a minister in short-lived Congress-led government headed by Mr Pratapsing Rane. Asked why the party had not named his successor, he said that organisational elections were underway and a new president could be elected in the due course. He stated that he was not interested in contesting the GPCC elections and that he wanted to devote more time to his constituency. The news of acceptance of resignation of Mr Faleiro came as a surprise to many Congressmen in the state and many of them were unaware of the the high command decision. Mr Ravi Naik, who is tipped to take over the GPCC leadership, expressed surprise when asked to comment on the high command�s decision. Mr Naik, who is in Mumbai on a private visit, said that he was not aware of the high command�s decision nor he had been sounded as a possible successor by it, he informed. Mr Jitendra Deshprabhu, party vice-president and a loyalist of Mr Faleiro, said that he was surprised to hear the news. He said that the news had come at a time when the party was gearing up to contest the by-elections which are likely to be announced any moment. He further said that Mr Faleiro�s leadership had given matured presentation and that to him he (Mr Faleiro) would always be a leader. He further stated that the wisdom of high command in accepting the resignation cannot be questioned by Congressmen. The resignation letter of Mr Faleiro was made available to the press this evening, in which he had thanked the AICC president for appointing him as the GPCC president and thereafter giving her consent to unseat the Bharatiya Janata Party government which was dividing Goan populace on communal lines. The letter further stated that the efforts to dislodge the BJP government fructified after long and patient exercise carried by him, which was made possible due to strong backing of Ms Gandhi. The letter also stated that in keeping with the traditions of the Congress he was resigning as the GPCC president. Mr Faleiro observed that installation of a Congress government had not only strengthened the hands of Ms Gandhi but also given fresh lease of life to party workers and loyalists. In his resignation letter he was thankful to the AICC president for giving him an opportunity to serve as a minister. - Forwarded by http://www.goa-world.com
