After poll drubbing, Goa Congress unit chief quits

Goa Congress chief Subhash Shirodkar on Saturday resigned, owning responsibility for the party's defeat in the recently held Legislative Assembly election.

Shirodkar handed his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. He and former chief minister Digambar Kamat were in Delhi to submit a report on the party's performance in Goa.

Shirodkar had said two days ago that he would be stepping down, taking the responsibility for the drubbing which the ruling Congress received in Goa.

Sources said that Gandhi asked Shirodkar to remain as a caretaker Goa Pradesh Congress Committee chief till the new leader was appointed.

The Congress could win only 9 seats out of 40 in Goa, while the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a clear majority.

The Congress high command has sent its emissaries to Goa to take stock of the situation and oversee the process of electing a new leader of opposition.

All India Congress Committee's general secretary Jagmit Singh Brar and Union minister Mukul Vasnik are in Panaji.

"We will hear the views of all the MLAs before deciding on the leader of opposition," Brar said, adding that if MLAs wanted the decision to be taken by Sonia Gandhi, then the matter will be referred to Delhi.

Senior Congress leader Pratapsingh Rane and Digambar Kamat are front-runners for the post.