Luizinho Faleiro resigns as Rajya Sabha MP, to quit Trinamool ‘soon’

Without disclosing the reasons for his resignation, Faliero, in a media statement, said things “didn’t quite go according to plan” despite “best intentions”. He thanked West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee for entrusting him with “important positions in the party”.

He stated, “TMC did bring with it a ray of hope especially because it was led by their Didi (Mamata)…. I had hoped that with her leadership and personal involvement and with fresh grassroots candidates, Goa would see a new template of grassroots politics…”

In the statement, Faleiro said he had faced the challenge and disappointment of being a “Goan MP but not an MP from Goa… Moreover, in Rajya Sabha, I am pressed for time to raise issues concerning Goa because of the limited allotment given to the party, making it difficult to raise Goa’s issues in the depth and manner needed to have an impact…”

Sources said TMC had been upset with Faleiro after he had allegedly refused to contest the 2022 Goa Assembly polls from Fatorda against Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai. On whether the TMC leadership had nudged him to resign from Rajya Sabha, Faleiro declined to comment.

In a statement, the Goa unit of TMC said, “We wish Luizinho Faleiro good health, happiness and long life. We sincerely hope that he continues to tirelessly serve the people of Goa and strive towards achieving more progress and advancement of the state. AITC will announce a new candidate for the seat as and when the election is notified.”

Months before last year’s state elections, Faleiro, a Congress veteran and seven-time MLA, joined the TMC in September 2021. At the time, he stated that he would “lead a movement” to bring a “new dawn” in Goa. He was elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from West Bengal, becoming the first person from Goa to become a Trinamool MP.

The party, however, fared miserably in the state Assembly polls, drawing a blank in the 40-member House and garnering only 5.21% vote-share.