Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Former Chief Minister of Goa and former Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro today announced that he would be resigning as the Congress MLA to effectively fight the divisive forces in the state and work towards the betterment of Goa.
“I have resigned as Congress MLA to effectively fight the divisive forces in the state and work towards the betterment of Goa. I am not sure wether i will contest elections or not but i will support Mamta led Trinamool Congress,” said Faleiro
Faleiro highlighted that on the evening when results were announced, he had insisted on submitting a letter to the Governor, in accordance with the AICC legal department’s advisory, to stake a claim to form a Congress led government. However, he was prevented from going to the governor by the AICC desk in charge and asked to wait till they had 24 MLAs, a decision that eventually cost the INC Government and allowed the BJP to steal the mandate.
“I felt dejected, shocked and utterly betrayed to let down the people Goa who had entrusted the INC with their mandate,” he added
The next day after the announcement of results, when Faleiro was duly elected as the leader of the CLP with 13 MLAs in his favour, he refrained from taking up the position as the INC had failed it’speople. Later, the General Secretary and other senior leaders tried to have him removed as GPCC President claiming that they would be able to form a government in 24 hours.Faleiro stated that he resigned as GPCC president while senior party leaders were indulging in backstabbing.
In a letter that he released today addressing his constituents, he said, “All along, in spite of thinking about resigning as MLA due to the betrayal of my people, I refused to let down the trust, support and faith of the people of Navelim, who had stood by me through all ups and downs. Throughout this period of four and half years I maintained a dignified silence in my suffering. I bore the pain but it was nothing in comparison to the pain of the people of Goa. From 18 MLAs, we have been reduced to just 5, an unmistakable dent in the history of our party. Dear Naveklars, the Congress in Goa is, sadly not the same party for which we had sacrificed and fought.”
Luizinho Faleiro stated that he continued to be in the party with the singular aim to only serve the people of Navelim, who had bestowed in him immense trust and faith. However, in the best interest of Goa, he has today resigned as MLA of Navelim to effectively fight the divisive forces that have been threatening to tear apart the state and nation.
Faleiro reiterated his commitment to preserve the ideals and founding principles of the INC that he had espoused through his life.
He stated that “the dream is to bring the divided Congress family, that has always played a unifying role in the history of this country, back together to fight the forces of destruction. However, my commitment to Goa is paramount and I must take this step so that my dream to bring a new dawn for Goa can be realized.”