Wasn’t consulted before change in GPCC restructuring: Patkar

Colva: Former Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said there was neither consultation nor discussion with him regarding the change in the party's state structure.

Patkar was speaking to reporters after the unveiling of a statue of Jack de Sequeira, popularly known as the Father of the Opinion Poll, on the occasion of Goa Statehood Day.

“I was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the party in 2022 at a time when the morale of Congress workers was low following the party’s victory in 11 assembly seats and the subsequent defections. For the last four years and two months, I worked tirelessly to strengthen the organisation from the grassroots by building and consolidating block committees,” he said.

Patkar attributed the party’s victory in the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency and the subsequent success in the Benaulim zilla parishad election to these efforts.

He said that he received the official communication regarding the new appointments at around 9.30pm on Friday, shortly after concluding a meeting with the Benaulim block Congress committee.

On a statement by his successor, Girish Chodankar, that discussions on the leadership change had been under way for a fortnight, Patkar said, “Perhaps such meetings were held with him, but none were held with me.”

He also said that while focusing on strengthening the party, he had neglected his home constituency of Curchorem, where he lost to BJP by a margin of around 300 votes. He added that he now intends to concentrate on rebuilding his base in the constituency.

Patkar said the situation on a party ticket for the next assembly elections would become clearer after he meets INC president Mallikarjun Kharge, for which he has sought an appointment.