Congress appoints Yuri Alemao as legislature party leader in Goa Assembly

Among the eight to defect, just six months after being elected on a Congress ticket, was Micheal Lobo, a former leader of the Congress Legislature Party who was also the Leader of Opposition in the 40-member Assembly.

Lobo was removed from the post after a foiled defection attempt in July that the Congress accused him and former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat of engineering.

Although the defections reduced the Congress’s strength to three legislators, of the seven MLAs from opposition parties left in the House, the Congress still has the most. This enables Alemao to stake a claim to be the next Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

Hon’ble Congress President has appointed Shri Yuri Alemao as Leader, Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Goa with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/h9X3SLVFhz

— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) September 20, 2022

This is the second time that the Congress was stung by defection, which happened despite the party raising red flags and seeking Lobo’s and Kamat’s disqualification.

In a similar fashion, two-thirds (then 10 of 15) Congress MLAs had defected to the BJP in July 2019.

Apart from Alemao, the two remaining Congress MLAs are former Advocate General of Goa Carlos Ferreira and hotelier Altone D’costa. All three are first- time legislators and Christians.

While Ferreira represents the Aldona constituency in North Goa, Alemao and D’costa represent Cuncolim and Quepem respectively in South Goa.

The Congress’s decision to pick Alemao over Ferreira to lead its Legislature Party underscores its decision to promote the party’s younger generation.

After the Assembly election, the party also appointed 38-year-old Amit Patkar as its state unit chief.

Son of former Congress MLA and minister Joaquim Alemao, Alemao had earlier said he was not present when, in January, the party’s election candidates took oath at places of worship not to defect after being elected. It was his conscience that kept him back in the Congress, he said.

He called the defections unfortunate. “ You can defy physics, gravity, but how can these guys defy God? That is the million-dollar question. They don’t even fear God….We have promised the people that we will stay loyal for five years and people voted for us….I am not a commodity that can be purchased. There is no price tag on my head. There have to be values. You have to be loyal to the party,” he said.

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RESOLUTION ON RAHUL

Meanwhile, a meeting of the newly elected Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) was held in Panaji on Tuesday. GPCC returning officer Mohan Joshi held the meeting with Patkar and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha in attendance.

In a statement, the party unit said all its members have resolved that Rahul Gandhi “should be unanimously elected as AICC president”.

“He has a pre-eminent place in the Congress Party. He has been relentlessly and fearlessly fighting against the wrong policies and communal agenda of the Country. His message of harmony and kindness has been lauded by all,” the statement said.