the goan I network
MARGAO
Even as Congress MLAs Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar quit the party to embrace the BJP in a day of hectic developments, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief Girish Chodankar’s leadership as well as the failure of the Congress leadership to shortlist the party Chief Ministerial candidate came into sharp focus on Tuesday.
Both Subhash and Sopte belong to the Bhandari Samaj and with Girish, also belonging to the same caste, those opposed to the GPCC Chief questioned his failure to stop the two MLAs from crossing over to the BJP camp.
Girish, however, stated that the BJP was sadly mistaken if it thinks they can purchase the entire community. “The BJP may have succeeded in weaning away Subhash and Sopte, but they would be sadly mistaken if they think the entire Bhandari Samaj is on their side,” Girish asserted.
The GPCC Chief was also unwilling to accept that it was his stand over the Congress not seeking support from the Goa Forward party to form the Congress-led government that was one of the main causes behind the resentment amongst party MLAs, who were in favour of forming an alternate government.
“I had taken the stand that the Congress will not accept support from the Goa Forward based on the feedback from party MLAs as most were worried about the adverse effect this coalition would have post the Goa Forward formalin issue. It was not my individual decision, but a collective one,” Girish said.
The GPCC president’s stand assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of reports that resentment had set in amongst party MLAs as the party could not form the government despite being the single largest party.
The leadership issue, more so the question of who will be the Congress Chief Ministerial candidate, also came to the fore, especially in Margao, the home constituency of former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
While Girish declined to comment on this allegation, one of his close supporters, however, was categorical in asserting that the CLP already had a leader in Babu Kavlekar, reminding that the Chief Ministerial candidate is shortlisted only as and when the occasion arises.
“Girish cannot be blamed on this count. The Chief Ministerial candidate is decided only at the right time,” the Congress leader added.
