Who is happy in Congress anyway?

With Madkaikar looking out for options and Vishwajeet toying with the idea of Sattari Yuva Morcha, Congress may well face its biggest existential crisis in the state

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The only political party that seems far away from the realities of life is the Congress. This party has always been nothing more than a coalition of interests. But I never imagined that these interests would not only be self contradictory but also self conflicting. Here is a classic case how a political party should not conduct itself when the elections are merely six months away; moreover when it is in the opposition.

Interestingly, Goa’s political landscape is starkly similar on both the fronts right now “ the ruling as well as the opposition. RSS-Goa Prant has become the biggest troublemaker for the BJP while AAP is becoming a major headache for the opposition. However, there is one crucial difference in both these scenarios. In the case of the ruling, one of the senior partners ie the BJP understands consequences of such a divide within its core vote bank and it s struggling to pacify its in-house detractors including the MGP. However, on the other side, the Congress is further alienating its natural partners.

Let us first settle upon one simple fact “ AAP is not going to join hands with any other anti-BJP force. They will field their own candidates without any alliance. That leaves the Congress, Goa Forward, NCP and others like GVP. Congress is currently making sure that none of these forces feel comfortable with it. They have openly snubbed the NCP for reasons unknown and some of its spokespersons are trading more guns on the Goa Forward & AAP than the BJP.

Moreover, there seems to be no cohesiveness at all between the local leadership of the party and the emissary of their high command. They differ practically on every issue. May it be casinos or alliance with the likeminded forces, Digvijay’s take is completely different from that of Luizinho. On one side, Digvijay has opened “gatbandhan” lines with Vijai Sardesai, on the other side Luizinho’s men are relentlessly firing at the Fatorda strongman. This is ironical because the grand old party is mercilessly attacking its age old friend while their new foe, the AAP is merrily eating into their traditional vote share.

With Pandurang Madkaikar looking out for options and Vishwajeet Rane toying with the idea of Sattari Yuva Morcha as an active political front, Congress may well face its biggest existential crisis in the state. Nothing can be more tragic for a political party that is facing election six months down the line than an opposition leader contemplating on political retirement and a state president non committal even on contesting the election let alone being its CM candidate. Six months ago I believed that the party is experiencing leadership crisis. Now it is turning into matters of existence.

Let us realistically see how many MLAs are actually there with the party right now. Mauvin Godinho is already with the BJP. Monserrate couple too cannot be counted as “Congress” although Lady Monserrate still technically happens to be a legislator of the party. That brings down the number of the MLAs with the Congress to six. Pandurang Madkaikar does not seem keen in continuing with the Congress. Alex Reginald has kept all his options open. Pratapsingh Rane wants to retire and Vishwajeet Rane is not at all happy the way things are going on in the party. Babu kavlekar has also been vociferous about the strategic blunders the party is committing. That brings down the number to one. The last remaining soul is Digambar Kamat and surely his silence cannot be considered as consolation. So how many MLAs are actually wholeheartedly with the party?

The only people filled with enthusiasm and eagerness are those who miserably lost the last election. They need the Congress more than the Congress needs them and such has been the case most of the times with many of these local ex-satraps. The party never exercised its right to streamline these corrupt, careless and corroded heavyweights and the outcome is evident. Many believed that things would change after the 2012 debacle. But bad habits die hard. We still see same old faces acquiring the frontal chairs on any dais during most of the Congress functions.

It is too late to change anything now. At least 40% of the voters have already made up their mind and they openly express their feelings. None of them is even looking at the Congress. 20% are registered members of various political parties or active karyakartas of various political leaders. Remaining 20% are fence sitters who may or may not have decided but you would never know. Rest of the 20% doesn’t vote. Congress’ best efforts may win them some brownie points with those second last 20%. But that will be far from any victory.

Frankly, rest of the opposition forces now need to draw their strategy by discarding Congress and discounting AAP. People of Goa are not going to rally behind a fudged up alliance formed only a month before the election more out of necessity and political compulsions than ideological wavelengths and principled proximities.

Will such division of forces benefit the BJP? Of course it would. But not just due to fragmented opposition but because the BJP was ready to walk that extra mile to caress, cajole and comfort the MGP. Because the BJP understood that you cannot face an election laden with such strong anti incumbency by bearing a triangular split in your own backyard.