PANAJI
Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram arrived in Goa on Wednesday morning on his first visit since being appointed ‘senior election observer’ to oversee strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections due in February-March next year and held discussions with senior local leaders.
The senior Congress leader met with all the five party legislators separately -- Pratapsing Rane, Luizinho Faleiro, Ravi Naik, Aleixo Reginald Lourenco and Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat.
Beleaguered Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president, Girish Chodankar, was also closeted with Chidambaram for some time.
Top on the former finance minister’s agenda will be resolving the leadership issue after questions were raised over the continuance of Chodankar with a section of the local leadership, including Lourenco and South Goa MP, Francisco Sardinha, publicly calling for his replacement.
Former chief minister Pratapsing Rane, who has often been criticised for staying aloof from party affairs, meanwhile was evasive when journalists sought his comments after emerging from his meeting with Chidambaram.
Rane declined to divulge much except for saying he had not spoken to him about any alliances or election strategy-related issues.
Chidambaram too avoided the media and a chance audience at the brimming with Congressmen venue at the International Centre in Dona Paula only elicited a “later, later...I am here,” response from the senior leader when asked to comment on the leadership and other issues plaguing the principal Opposition party.
Chodankar on his part said he was certain that the appointment of Chidambaram as observer to oversee strategy and poll preparedness and his visit will further boost and strengthen the party.
Since emerging as the single largest party at the 2017 elections with 17 MLAs, the Congress in Goa has faced a series of setbacks largely owing to its inability to form the government allegedly due to internal differences on the leadership issue.
As many as 13 legislators have deserted the party and crossed over to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party since.
