Panaji, Oct 8 (IANS): Former Goa Congress chief John Fernandes said Wednesday that he was replaced as the state party president at the behest of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Fernandes, who was replaced as the Congress state president Tuesday night, said that Parrikar had moles in the Congress, many of whom he alleged were corrupt and had conspired to oust him.

"Parrikar has friends in the Congress with whom he has conspired to oust me," Fernandes said in a press conference here.

The reaction came in less than 24 hours after the Congress high command replaced him with All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Luizinho Faleiro.

Fernandes had initiated disciplinary proceedings and sacked several senior Congress leaders, many of them with tainted backgrounds, from key party positions and replaced them with young leaders, much to the chagrin of the Congress leaders.

Fernandes has only completed 10 months as the state president, but his much touted drive against 'corrupt' elements within the party had triggered a rebellion by several senior leaders over the last few months.