We’ve asked Rane to be more aggressive: Digvijaya

Panaji: Pratapsingh Rane is a seasoned and perfect gentleman. But, we have to take the BJP government head-on on public issues. It has to be more aggressive. Rane is one of the most experienced political leaders of Goa and a fine administrator, but a fine administrator and a fine chief minister need not be a fine leader of opposition, AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa desk, Digvijaya Singh, told STOI on Saturday.
Asked if there was a leadership change in the future, Singh said he didn’t think that was on the cards. “But we have requested Rane to be more aggressive in all cases where BJP has violated the norms or gone back on its election promises. For example, Parrikar had promised that within six months of coming to power, he will ban all casinos, but he has renewed all casino licences. There is a huge gap between what he said and what he did,” Singh said.
Would the Congress consider taking back leaders like Churchill Alemao or Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate? Singh said it all depends on the party. “As far as I am concerned, I would not like to recommend taking back any person who has ditched the Congress part,” he said.
Asked if he was not ruling out the option, Singh said, “I do want to impose my will on the state leadership, but I am against taking back those who have ditched the party.”
When questioned about alliances, especially with the NCP, he said he hardly saw any presence of the NCP in Goa. “I don’t see any possibility at the moment, but I can’t say what will happen in the future. But as of today, there is hardly any possibility of an alliance with the NCP in Goa,” he said.
Singh said that the Congress in Goa needs to induct young people and that “bright youngsters” are indeed coming up. Asked if he would say what percentage of seats would be allotted to youth and women in the next assembly election, he said that it depends on the acceptability of the candidate among the Congress workers and also the winning possibility of the candidate.
Singh said that ever since Luizinho Faleiro took over as state president, things are one the move and Faleiro has been able to put the party in order. “It’s an uphill task because a lot of work has to be done before the next assembly election. But, we are putting the structure in place,” Singh said.