While the political environment is slowly picking up steam ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, discouraging signs emerged for the Congress which has taken a head start in testing the waters.
That party’s Goa desk in-charge Dr Chellakumar was a witness to an open crossfire from rival camps within the party at Pernem, is clear enough an indication of what lies in store.
The in-fighting within the party is nothing new, but the manner in which it is played out at this juncture, when elections are miles ahead, only goes to show the strong undercurrents within the party. And this comes from a party which showed signs of rejuvenation and unity under a new leadership.
It is obvious that Party President Rahul Gandhi has done a delicate balancing act with a blend of young and old leaders in the three teams for Lok Sabha polls that he has announced. It is also clear that the Congress has realised that it can’t experiment too much in terms of a drastic overhaul since the 2019 poll is a make-or-break situation for Rahul and his party.
What remains to be seen is how the Goa seats are handled when there has been a consistent tussle between the old and new faces. Election of a relatively young face in Girish Chodankar as the GPCC chief doesn’t make the going any easy for the party, which will be again left with difficult choices to make. And a distinct lack of discipline, as witnessed at the Pernem meet where factional feuds were out in the open, will only make it worse.
Chellakumar sought to put the equation is right perspective saying that the winnability of candidates will be crucial while deciding candidature. But it will be easier said than done, since in Congress everyone believes himself to be a winner.
In distant Salcete, Goa Forward which is a key ally of the BJP has reiterated its support to the saffron party, while ruling out any truck with the grand old party. This makes it even more difficult for the Congress, despite the fact there is a wave of resentment against the ruling dispensation.
The early build up is a positive sign for the Congress, but the choice of candidates will be a tough test. Whether the party workers can rally unitedly behind names cleared by the High Command or will there be further dissensions on the lines of Joaquim Alemao and his son Yuri, remains to be seen.
Chodankar has done well so far in galvanizing the party which was seen struggling against the might of the coalition. The Lok Sabha will be the first crucial test for the GPCC president as he becomes the crucial link between the old and new faces. It’s all the more significant for the fact that Congress’ biggest challenge has always been fighting the enemy within.
