Girish Chodankar replaces Shantaram as Goa Cong chief

NT NETWORK

 

PANAJI

The Congress party is all set for a makeover as All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Girish Chodankar has been appointed as the new Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president to succeed Shantaram Naik.

“The Congress president Rahul Gandhi has appointed Girish Chodankar as president of GPCC with immediate effect,” states the order issued by AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot.

“The party appreciates the hard work and contribution of Shantaram Naik who will be stepping down from his responsibility as PCC president of Goa,” it reads further.

Chodankar is likely to take charge in the first week of May after returning from the Jan Aakrosh

(Anger) Rally which is being organised by AICC in Delhi on April 29.

Expressing his happiness over the appointment, Chodankar said that he is open to restoring the mandate of the people given in 2017 Goa Assembly elections where Congress emerged as the single largest party.

“We cannot just form the government as we don’t have the numbers at present, it is not government formation but the restoration of public mandate, Congress party is open to restoring the public mandate provided the alliance partners supporting this government decides to withdraw their support from Bharatiya Janata Party,” Chodankar said adding that Congress will not topple the government.

He further said that strengthening the party at the block level would be his top priority and preparing for 2019 parliamentary elections would be his top priority soon after taking the charge in the office.

The outgoing GPCC president Shantaram Naik urged his successor to establish a good rapport with the alliance partners of the BJP.

“One of the important duties of the new president would be that he will have to establish a good rapport with alliance parties. We don’t have the majority and if tomorrow we need to form the government then we have to approach the other political parties and seek their support,” said Naik while addressing the press conference in Panaji.

He said Congress ought to have good relations with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Goa Forward Party, Nationalist Congress Party and independents.

When questioned about Chodankar’s aggressiveness against GFP president Vijai Sardesai, Congress Legislature Party leader Chandrakant Kavlekar said, “Chodankar may be young but he has loads of experience with him, I am sure he will keep aside personal issues and take decisions in the interest of the party,” said Kavlekar.

Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco who had emerged as top probable contenders for the topmost job in the party also extended good wishes to Chodankar.

“I congratulate Girish Chodankar for the new responsibility and I am sure Congress party in Goa will achieve new heights under his leadership,” said Digambar Kamat.

Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said that he will continue to work for the party and there was no question of resentment.

“I have no issues and there is no question of resentment or ill feeling, I will continue to work with the same enthusiasm which I have been doing over the years. Perhaps, I was the first one to congratulate Girish,” he said.