MARGAO
In the run up to the 2004 Lok Sabha election, former BJP chief minister late Manohar Parrikar had descended in Salcete with a mission -- try and make inroads in the minority heartland with the hope of making a dent in the Congress vote bank.
Reason: The astute former CM must have certainly hoped that even a small shift in the percentage of voters from the Congress would keep the BJP in good stead, assuming the saffron party would do well in the remaining talukas of South Goa.
Two decades later, the Congress has a task cut out ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls “ get down to Salcete, the party’s power house over the years, with a mission to bring the traditional vote back to the party fold; work out social engineering a la Karnataka style and put up a strong leadership before the people to win back their confidence.
Indeed, Congress’ landslide victory in the Karnataka Assembly election had an echo back home in Goa, triggering jubilations in the Congress camp and outside, even raising hopes amongst the party rank and file that they too can achieve in South Goa in the 2024 Polls.
To translate the hopes and aspirations of the party workers and people in general, observers say the Congress has indeed a task cut out to face the huge BJP challenge in South Goa.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah might have sounded the bugle for the 2024 polls, launching the battle to wrest the South Goa seat, but Congress leaders and political observers, however, appear upbeat, admitting that Karnataka results have taught a lesson or two for the local party workers and leaders to put up an united face against the likes of Modi and Shah, whose rallies and road shows could not stop the Congress coming to power in Karnataka in style.
Take note, the Congress faces a challenge of sorts to retain the South Goa seat with half the Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet hailing from South coupled with the fact the Opposition party is in disarray, having just two MLAs -- Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and Quepem MLA Alton D’Costa post-defections -- in South Goa, made up of 20 Assembly segments.
Observers, however, still believe the best bet for the Congress to bounce back in 2024 is to win back the confidence of Salcete.
Late Manohar Parrikar had descended in Saxtti countrywide 20 years ago precisely to make a dent in the traditional Congress vote to keep the BJP in good stead in South Goa. “The experiment had failed and boomeranged with the Congress wresting South Goa from the BJP by 50,000-plus vote margin”, the observer said.
He added: “Late Parrikar had experimented in an alien territory by testing the political waters in Salcete.
The experiment failed since the party had no base in the minority stronghold. Unlike the BJP, Salcete has been the Congress party’s backbone and the challenge before the party is to win back the people’s confidence, and convey a message loud and clear that it’s the only party which is in a position to stop the Lotus from blooming again in South Goa”.
Observers admit that the Congress is indeed facing a challenge to establish its credibility post-defections and the party facing a leadership crisis with no tall leader around.
“In Karnataka, Congress leaders, who were known sworn enemies put up an united face before the people throughout the campaign. In Goa, the party leadership may face a challenge to bring back various leaders under one platform to put up united face in the run up to 2024”, he added.
Incumbent South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha says the Goa Congress needs to learn a lesson from their Karnataka counterparts and unite in the interest of the people.
The four-time MP pointed out that the people of Karnataka have taught a lesson to the BJP as they refused to fall prey to money power and divisive politics. “The People in Karnataka opted for peace, amity and brotherhood. The message will spread across the country, including Goa”, he added.
