Mind games

The Congress has suddenly woken up from its slumber but the nightmare where they squandered a chance of government formation continues to haunt. As the chief minister leaves for his short sojourn to the United States with no second-in-command to take guard at the top, the Congress suddenly appears to be in some sort of urgency and a new script emerges which sounds more like a mind game rather than anything else.rAll India Congress Committee secretary Girish Chodankar pulls a fast one saying “We are not desperate to form a government but to topple this unjust government.” He sound optimistic when he says ‘some BJP allies’ are with the Congress, but quickly adds that his party is not in a tearing hurry to form the government. He says Congress will employ their entire strength to topple the government but in the same tone says party will be equally sensitive in forming a new government.rThere is a dramatic change to the way Congress is looking at the game of thrones. Opening up of party plans to the media and alerting the government of disunity appears bizarre and is seen as a move to create fear psychosis in the minds of the ruling party. rChodankar is speculating hard on the unity of the BJP and its allies and to his mind all is not well within the coalition. His claim of lack of consensus on Vinay Tendulkar being selected as the Rajya Sabha nominee doesn’t hold water as his candidature was discussed by the BJP with their partners before the announcement to the extent that even Vijai Sardesai was contacted when he was out of the country.rThe Congress is certainly shifting gears and is in no mood to let go of the chase for the elusive chief minister’s chair. However, it still remains a divided lot and and much remains to be seen when the new Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president comes on board.rAt a time when the coalition partners have been repeatedly singing unity tunes, the Congress ploy is certainly an exercise in futility. rThe party should wait for the dust to settle down and have their house in order first. The warring factions within the Congress have to hold hands and project the party as a strong opposition while they wait for an opportune time to make their move. These mind games won’t work.