Contributions to National Politics
“By the grace of God, I tasted success after success with the Congress coming back to power in different States entrusted to me such as Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur. The Karnataka Assembly Elections of 2013 were one of the greatest challenges, which eventually paid off with sweet victory.”
~ Luizinho Faleiro
The proposal was grounded in Rule 3 of the All India Services Cadre, where each State or group of States can have its own Cadre of All India Services. Luizinho’s Cabinet note cited that the State had faced many constraints in managing IAS/IPS officers posted in the State, as also ad-hoc transfers of chief secretary/secretaries by the Home Ministry without heeding to the State Government. The frequent transfers also do not allow the officers to learn about the culture, customs and sensibilities of the people and are unable to develop a perception in tune with the aspirations, hopes and desires of the people of Goa and therefore lack commitment to the State.
The Reliable Congress General
Particularly significant were not the positions he held, but the goods he delivered to the party and to the Nation, as Congress In-charge of the North Eastern States. Luizinho Faleiro was responsible for devising the campaign strategy, liaising between the Centre and the state leadership, researching, formulating and executing grueling campaigns, sometimes even at the risk of his life, and installing Congress governments — twice in Meghalaya, twice in Arunachal Pradesh, twice in Mizoram and once in Manipur. Working with different cultures, customs and conventions was a serious challenge. “I can never forget my assignments as In-charge of the North Eastern States, often called the Seven Sisters and jewels in the Indian Crown,” Luizinho reminiscences. In retrospect, these governments were able to bring some stability and peace to the long troubled regions, which was Luizinho’s major contribution to India’s National Interest.
In fact, Luizinho became the Congress party’s ‘Reliable General’ to win elections in various states by gluing together alliances, devising state specific strategies, overcoming local hurdles, disunity and firing-up party candidates with the belief that they could win.
In fact, Luizinho became the Congress party’s ‘Reliable General’ to win elections in various states by gluing together alliances, devising state specific strategies, overcoming local hurdles, disunity and firing-up party candidates with the belief that they could win.
Mizoram
After then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the Mizo Accord, it was the Mizo National Front which benefited and won elections since then. It was only in 2008 under the stewardship of Luizinho Faleiro, that Congress could wrest power in Mizoram and gain a foothold in the state.
Elections in Mizoram
Meghalaya
In Meghalaya, Luizinho had to deal with the Regional Parties, and some having an alliance with the BJP. But Luizinho, with his political acumen and human prowess, put together a formidable alliance that swept to power, and swept aside the Opposition, for two consecutive terms.
Chief Guest Mr. Luizinho Faleiro, General Secretary of AICC, Member Congress Working committee ( Permanent Invitee) and incharge of North Eastern States at a meeting in Meghalaya
Manipur
In Manipur, Luizinho Faleiro, had the courage to grapple with the reality of an insurgency hit state. Nearly 50 underground organisations had given a diktat to the people not to participate in the State Assembly Elections. Indigenous groups of tribals and sub tribals made the landscape complex to understand and deal with. The insurgents made every possible effort to sabotage elections to the six autonomous councils. The Congress party not only held the elections but with Luizinho in the forefront as In-charge, the Congress, in a historic first, won all the six autonomous councils in Manipur after 22 years.
Luizinho Faleiro’s commitment and involvement in the north east was so intense that he became a churning force for the Congress. He was also seen as a threat, since he stood for the unity and integrity of India. During the electoral battle in Manipur, Luizinho Faleiro, had a narrow escape while campaigning. An attempt was made on his life by an extremist who tried to ram a vehicle into Luizinho’s motorcade. “It was only through Divine Providence and circumstances that I managed to escape unhurt and unscathed, even as the attacker himself was killed instantly,” Luizinho narrates. The shattering incident only helped Luizinho to strengthen his faith in God and strengthened his resolve to fight for a democratic India.
Luizinho Faleiro’s commitment and involvement in the north east was so intense that he became a churning force for the Congress. He was also seen as a threat, since he stood for the unity and integrity of India. During the electoral battle in Manipur, Luizinho Faleiro, had a narrow escape while campaigning. An attempt was made on his life by an extremist who tried to ram a vehicle into Luizinho’s motorcade. “It was only through Divine Providence and circumstances that I managed to escape unhurt and unscathed, even as the attacker himself was killed instantly,” Luizinho narrates. The shattering incident only helped Luizinho to strengthen his faith in God and strengthened his resolve to fight for a democratic India.
Mr. Luizinho Faleiro in Manipur with …………………
Arunachal Pradesh
The Congress party stormed to power in Arunachal Pradesh under the stewardship of Congress In-Charge of North Eastern States, Luizinho Faleiro twice –once in……….and then again in 2014. Mr. Nabam Tuki was selected to lead the party as the 8th Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on 18 May 2014.
Caption: Mr. Luizinho Faleiro with Chief Minister Designate Mr. Nabam Tuki and
Wresting Karnataka:
Luizinho Faleiro in his last assignment before returning to salvage the Congress party’s fortunes in Goa, was appointed Chairman of the Karnataka Pradesh Assembly Elections Screening committee for selection of party candidates in 2015. Luizinho formulated an on-ground strategy, down to the minutest detail with copious research by taking everyone on board and scripting Congress victory in the 2015 elections, ending the BJP’s very first government in the South, till date. Luizinho therefore turned out to be the ‘Shrewd Strategist’ for the Congress in salvaging its fortunes in various states. Asked about his success in Karnataka, a humble Luizinho accepted the victory with a terse comment, “The Karnataka elections was one of the greatest challenges, which eventually paid off with sweet victory.” In terms of the National implications, the victory halted the southward march of the BJP, and Goa’s own Luizinho Faleiro takes the laurels for this major political achievement.
Having worked closely with then Congress President Smt Sonia Gandhi and then Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi and fulfilling all the party’s assigned tasks with success and finesse, Luizinho still remained the unassuming Goan we all know him to be. “By the grace of God, I tasted success after success with the Congress coming back to power in different States entrusted to me,” was all he says with a down to earth contented smile.
Mr. Luizinho Faleiro with UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
Reclaiming Goa
Luizinho Faleiro’s break from Goa was a blessing in disguise, since he became part of the leadership that was shaping the New Congress, which was wresting power in many states. In his final national assignment, Luizinho Faleiro was sent back to his home state –Goa, which he accepted reluctantly at the request of Sonia Gandhi. Here he faced a dispirited, disunited Congress, which never came to grips with its 2012 defeat and the simultaneous rise of the BJP in Goa. Post 2014, Luizinho batted for a new youth leadership, showed a firm resolve to fight corruption and offering to crack down on many issues such as Casinos which had thrived under the BJP government. Despite the severe challenges and disunity, Luizinho was able to bring back the Congress with the highest tally of 17 seats from the single digit 9 seats, the party had won in 2012, making it the single largest party. He himself contested the 2017 elections at the last moment, at the request of his voters and was elected MLA of his Navelim Constituency, for the Seventh time, reclaiming the seat from an Independent.
On the Campaign Trail ahead of Goa Assembly Elections 2017
Previously, Luizinho Faleiro had served as the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President in1999 and 2002. As President, he brought the Congress back to power with full majority in 1999. Till date Luizinho Faleiro remains a good political strategist and reliable leader of the National Congress and is still consulted on national party matters, by the party’s central leadership headed by Rahul Gandhi.