Trinamul Congress vice-president Luizinho Faleiro on Friday announced his withdrawal as a party nominee from Goa’s Fatorda constituency for the Assembly polls but denied rumours that he was quitting the party he had joined in September by snapping ties with the Congress.

“I announce my withdrawal as Goa Trinamul Congress 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,” Faleiro said in Panaji on Friday morning.

The announcement of Faleiro, former chief minister of the state whom Trinamul had projected as the party’s face in Goa, created a flutter in the party as there were rumours that he was about to resign from the party.

The veteran politician soon clarified that he was very much with Trinamul and the rumours were “false”. Faleiro added that he took the decision after consulting Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee and it was agreed that he would campaign for the party across the state.

Sources in Trinamul said Faleiro — who had always contested from Navelim, a seat that has been given to MLA Churchill Alameo’s daughter Valanka Alameo — decided to opt out as he was not sure about his victory against Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai, who is contesting the elections in alliance with the Congress, from Fatorda.

“It is true that Fatorda is not among the seats that we are expecting,” said a source.

Faleiro’s decision just 17 days before the Assembly polls , a source in Goa said, indicated that Trinamul was unlikely to have much impact in its debut electoral battle in the coastal state. After Faleiro’s pullout, Trinamul nominated Seoula Avilia Vas for the Fatroda contest against Sardesai.