Former Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) National Vice-President Luizinho Faleiro on Friday, January 28, announced his withdrawal as TMC candidate from the Fatorda constituency.
"I announce my withdrawal as Goa TMC candidate from Fatorda and hand over the baton to a young woman, a professional. That has been the policy of the party - to empower the women," said Faleiro in Panaji.
The party has replaced advocate Seola Vaz as the party candidate from Fatorda for the upcoming Goa Assembly elections.
"A few circumstances have changed personally for Falerio where he cannot contest this. As a result of that, we have replaced him with a very able, dynamic young lawyer Seola Vaz who is from Fatorda," TMC Goa Election in-charge said.
Although TMC leaders wanted Faleiro to contest the upcoming polls from Fatorda, the senior TMC leader was not keen on contesting the elections.
Reportedly, he has conveyed his decision to AITC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and the party’s top brass about his inability to contest from Fatorda.
Faleiro was among the first crop of leaders from Goa to join TMC in September last year and later was nominated to the Upper House of Parliament in November.
On Thursday, TMC announced the fourth list of candidates for the upcoming elections. Victor Gonsalves will contest from the Santa Cruz while Mahesh Bhandari has named party's candidate from Dabolim.