The switch to BJP by Fatorda Block Congress Committee President Piedade Noronha, former Congress candidate for Fatorda Joseph Silva and other party workers will come as a huge embarrassment and a setback to the Congress party in the run-up to the elections. The move is a fall-out of party indecisiveness and a clear indicator of a lack of confidence in the leadership.
The battle lines are drawn here because Congress has failed to act. The breakaway faction is apprehensive of an electoral tie-up with Goa Forward on the lines of the one formed by Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardessai for the municipal elections. As a parting shot, the dissidents have slammed leaders over their failure to strengthen the party base in Fatorda and heaped praise on BJP leader Damu Naik for being down to earth and accessible.
Even though Congress and Goa Forward remained unflustered, the development has political significance because there is a sizable tribal vote share in Fatorda that can swing the political equilibrium. Sadly, lessons have not been learnt, and the Congress, despite the growing resentment within cadres, has not stepped up damage-control. With the State moving towards elections and parties already going into poll mode, the delay in sorting out internal issues is only going to cause further damage.
While the party has named PC Chidambaram as the party's senior election observer nearly ten days back, and Goa desk in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao continuing to hold charge of organisational matters, very little has changed on the ground. The simmering discontent continues at the grass-root level. The Fatorda drift happened days after the party faced a vertical split in Velim and Cuncolim over inducting candidates from outside while not recognizing those from within. This is in addition to the traditional war between the veterans and new faces that has already left the party a divided lot. GPCC President Girish Chodankar's explanation that the party leadership will take steps to strengthen the party in Fatorda is a feeble attempt to give hope knowing well that the situation is moving out of his control.
The Congress will have to brace up for Fatorda-type rebellion and exodus in other constituencies as well, more so in areas where the party cadre is not in sync with the leadership. Grass root leaders have an inherent fear of being marginalised on importing candidates. Welcoming probable candidates like Benjamin Silva, Elvis Gomes and Mickky Pacheco has not only disillusioned the cadre but has also sent a clear message that the party leadership will take its independent decisions.
Labelling rebels as B & C outfits of the BJP will not help the situation, and it's a predictable defence. The Congress lacks direction and till now has given hopes to those who have deserted the party. There is a desperate need for PC Chidambaram to step in and stem the tide before the situation escalates out of control.
