Put the Congress house in order first, Rahul Gandhi! It’s the need of the hour in Goa, and not the assurance that you have given to the NGOs. The positives vibes that the national Congress president has given to the five NGOs that met him in Goa have no meaning. The nation is going to poll and there is a simultaneous bypoll in Goa too. Against this backdrop, indulging in meetings with NGOs only helped the party to showcase support.
Rahul has gone about with all the diplomacy in his book, mixing it perfectly with political opportunism and timing. Surprisingly, positive signs have emerged on crucial issues that Goa has been battling for over a year “ mining resumption, special status, coal pollution, river nationalization and even the CRZ notification. Election promises are easy to make and break.
But before Rahul can contemplate on these Goa issues, he must realize that there is a bigger challenge within his own party. The rift between partymen is getting wider by the day. It’s a major embarrassment when veteran Congress strongman and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, a leader who is seen as a main contender to the leadership throne, opened up old scars on his birthday, the day Rahul arrived. He spoke on how party leaders failed to back him during his days of torment when he was facing fire from the Crime Branch, SIT and the Enforcement Directorate. There are several others in the party who continue to remain at odds with leaders and this is where Rahul’s positivity should come in.
The party president has managed to work his charm in states where Congress is ruling, and he needs to translate that in Goa as well. Before holding out promises on Goa issues, there is a lot of work to be done within. Seasoned Congressmen have been deserting the party for greener pastures in critical situations. If staunch leaders like Mauvin Godinho, Pandurang Madkaikar and Vishwajit Rane have deserted the party in the past, the trend has not stopped. Subhash Shirodkar, once a strong Congress loyalist and Dayanand Sopte have jumped ship to ensure the BJP boat doesn’t sink.
Rahul must gather his intelligence on the enemy within and launch a surgical strike on these self-centred politicos in the party who are ready to change colours for selfish gains. People’s mandate has not been respected. If a fragile government is showing confidence of completing its full term, despite the severe odds it is facing, it’s only because Congress continues to harbor Judas’.
Giving assurances on Goa issues is an exercise in futility. If Congress is serious about coming to power and changing the narrative, it needs to introspect within. An overhaul is required before some more Congress MLAs go ‘gayab’ like the Rafale
papers.
