PANAJI
‘Fanboy’ Elvis Gomes, a former State convenor of the AAP and now a Congressman, met former Union Minister for Finance P Chidambaram, stating that he discussed issues related to the opposition party including ways to strengthen the political outfit into a force to reckon with ahead of the 2022 polls.
Gomes, who repeatedly slammed the Congress party in his previous stint as the AAP’s top boss in the State, also said that he was a Chidambaram fan.
“This leader has a lot of admirers. Everyone has seen his work, both as Finance Minister or Home Minister. I was one of the fans, you can say,” Gomes told reporters after a meeting with Chidambaram at a resort near Panaji. Chidambaram is in Goa on a two-day visit, in the capacity of a senior All India Congress Committee observer for the 2022 polls.
“He is a man of stature and his act of meeting so many people is a signal that Congress is serious,” Gomes also said.
Gomes also said that the bickering within the party needs to be addressed and also said that the BJP was faced with a tremendous anti-incumbency sentiment, which the Congress should be in a position to exploit in the upcoming polls.
“The Congress should send a positive signal to the people. I feel that this exercise by Chidambaram (should) bring people together. As you say, one hears of these things (bickering) but this is a very big organisation, it tends to happen. But the question is how much you can bring it under control and go to the people,” Gomes said.
“Everyone knows the Congress (party) and there is a tremendous anti-incumbency against the BJP. The common man on the streets is also frustrated with the BJP. That has to be captured by the Congress. Only Congress has a chance,” Gomes said.
He also said that the party should announce its candidates much before the polls so that they can familiarise themselves with the voters and vice versa.
“People feel that candidates should be declared beforehand, because then they get time to work and there is an acceptance level from the people. Doubts can be clarified,” Gomes also said.
