Congress rules out any leadership change in Goa

PANAJI - The Congress Friday ruled out any leadership changes in Goa and asked the dissidents to use appropriate means to resolve their grievances instead of venting these in the media.

Addressing a press conference here, state Congress unit chief Subhash Shirodkar said the Congress high command was seized of the recent indiscipline among party ranks, but continued to back Chief Minister Digambar Kamat as the head of the Congress-led coalition government in the state.

“The state government is strong. Nothing is going to happen. There will be no change in leadership,” said Shirodkar, who returned here Thursday after meeting Congress’ Goa in-charge B.K. Hariprasad in New Delhi.

Shirodkar’s statement comes amidst informal parleys by legislators of the ruling combine, including ministers, over the last few days.

The dissidents who call themselves “Group of Seven”, are led by Atanasio Monserrate and have sought “streamlining of administration and effective leadership” from the Congress central high command.

Describing the behaviour of the dissidents as “a sort of indiscipline”, Shirodkar said that instead of venting their ire through the media, the legislators should have behaved like “grown ups” and tried to resolve their difference at appropriate forums.

“The high command has taken note of what has happened. They should have used other party forums to settle these matters,” he said, adding the combined meetings of the legislative wing and the state Congress Committee will be held to try and resolve these issues.

Goa has been known for repeated regime changes over the last couple of decades. The state has seen 17 chief ministers between 1990 and 2007. Kamat himself has survived two coups attempts in his chief ministerial tenure.