PANAJI: Amid talks of a leadership change and factionalism in the Goa unit of Congress, senior All India
Congress Committee (AICC)
election observer P
Chidambaram arrived in Goa on Wednesday for a two-day official visit. The former finance minister held a series of meetings at Goa International Centre, Dona Paula, in a bid to take
stock of the party’s readiness to take on BJP in the 2022 state assembly polls.
Congress functionaries told Chidambaram that the party needs to immediately address the dissent over state party president Girish Chodankar’s leadership in order to revive the party’s political fortunes. Chidambaram, along with Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao, is in Goa to assess the political situation and to formulate an election strategy for the coming polls. AICC chief observer Prakash Rathod is also in Goa. “Chidambaram is meeting leaders individually, and organisational heads to take a review and prepare the party for the elections. It is important to go ahead with unity. The demand for Congress tickets has increased, which means that the party’s prospects are strong,” said Rao.
AICC is expected to take a decision regarding the party president in the coming four to five days, said some of the state Congress functionaries.
The state unit of the Congress is grappling with infighting, a perennial problem, with Chodankar facing strong opposition from party legislators and functionaries. Chodankar has resigned from the post twice, but AICC has not accept his resignation. Party workers from Sanguem, Ponda and other constituencies have openly criticised Chodankar’s performance as the state unit head.
“Almost everybody who spoke to Chidambaram gave inputs and their thoughts regarding the party president, alliance for the coming elections and selection of candidates for the coming elections,” said a senior Congress functionary who met Chidambaram.
The former finance minister held closed door meetings with frontal organisations, GPCC members, MLAs, former MLAs and others to try and understand the sentiments of party workers.
Ponda MLA Ravi Naik was evasive when asked about his meeting with Chidambaram. All that Naik was willing to admit is that he has warned the party high command about “betrayers who can never be trusted” in the party.
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“The agenda was the situation in the state. He has come to assess it,” said Poriem MLA and former chief minister Pratapsingh Rane after his meeting with Chidambaram. Rane claimed that Chidambaram did not speak about the party leadership issue or about the likelihood of an alliance.
“I am satisfied with the discussion I had with Chidambaram. We had some discussions about the organisation, how to go about for the next elections, and coalitions. I gave my view points to him. He will be examining them. Nobody can afford to lose more time,” said former Union minister Ramakant Khalap.
The Calangute Block workers also met Rao and vociferously opposed any move to induct Calangute MLA Michael Lobo into Congress. Rao reportedly assured the party workers that “genuine Congress worker would get the ticket” for the Calangute seat in the coming elections.