When veteran leader and former chief minister of Goa Luizinho Faleiro quit the Congress on Monday, the dominant view in the party was that those pampered by the high command are the first to betray.

Faleiro, appointed chairman of the Congress Election Coordination Committee in Goa barely a few days ago, had been an integral part of the high command structure for around 14 years. Considered close to party president Sonia Gandhi, he has looked after the Northeast as general secretary. He is a seven-term MLA and is now set to join Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamul Congress.

A senior leader feeling slighted for long told The Telegraph: “We are rotting in the Congress for decades but only those quit who were rewarded by the leadership. Look at the list: Jyotiraditrya Scindia was given a ticket to contest soon after his father’s demise, made central minister twice and then general secretary when the party lost power. He was Rahul Gandhi’s best friend. He not only leaves but also pulls down the government in Madhya Pradesh.”

This leader continued: “Jitin Prasada was given a ticket to fight as both MP and MLA, made central minister and then given charge of a state. He joins the BJP.

“Sushmita Dev was made MP and then straightaway given charge of Mahila Congress. A couple of very prominent leaders are planning to quit. Alpesh Thakore was brought in with such fanfare and he embraced the BJP.”

This feeling is widespread in the Congress, apart from the grudge that those who come from outside are being given undue importance. The names of Nana Patole, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Hardik Patel and Revanth Reddy are cited. The counter view is that the Congress is at its nadir and talented people joining the party must be offered attractive deals. Kanhaiya Kumar and Jignesh Mevani are to join on Tuesday and can both expect exceptional treatment.

When Jitin Prasada was sworn in as a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, former Union minister Manish Tewari tweeted: “Jitin Prasada: 2004-14 represented generational change in the Congress. UPA minister. Today a BJP mantri. A Jyotiraditya Scindia redux. What turned their hearts. Wish I could look inside their heads. Life never ceases to amaze. May he find fulfilment in his New Avtar. God Bless brother.”

A young leader considered close to Rahul Gandhi said: “It is inexplicable how young leaders claiming to be ideologically committed join the BJP now when the country is in peril. That’s immorality.”

Joining Trinamul is also being viewed as fraught with grave implications.

One senior leader from Goa said: “Trinamul and AAP will not win seats in Goa but they will spoil the Congress’s chances. We can see a sinister project to damage the Congress. But what can be done when our leaders don’t see it? Majority of leaders requested Rahul Gandhi to remove Girish Chodankar as state unit chief but he didn’t listen. Faleiro left only because of Girish. When leaders don’t listen, you can only pray. We pray that the very obvious chance for a Congress victory in Goa is not frittered away.”

Faleiro said: “I have been a Congressman for 40 years and I will continue to be a Congressman of the Congress family. This family has to come together if we have to fight Modi. Among all the four Congresses, it is Mamata who has given a tough fight to Narendra Modi and their juggernaut….”