Photo caption:
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai addressing the media along with South Goa District Congress office bearer and former Velim ZP member Anthony Babush Rodrigues on the Maad Yatra in Velim. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The Congress leadership may find itself in a tight spot how to grapple with the task of stopping its flock from either according a red carpet welcome or embracing MLA Vijai Sardesai’s Maad Yatra, which has rolled down from Pernem from Sunday and is expected to make its presence felt in every constituency, including Salcete, every Sunday, in the coming weeks and months.
The Maad Yatra is basically intended to expose the BJPÂ-led government’s controversial Amendment on reÂclassification of the coconut tree. The Congress leadership, however, may suddenly realise a clear writing is on the wall for the party. The fiat issued by the party leadership to the rank and file not to attend the Maad Yatra at Pernem had no takers, with party workers headed by former minister, Babu Azgaonkar leading the yatra in Pernem along with Independents Vijai Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte.
That's not all. If Babu Azgaonkar defied the party diktat and joined Vijai’s rally in Pernem, South Goa Congress District Committee office bearer and strong contender for the Velim ticket, Anthony Babush Rodrigues is now bracing up to lead the rally in Velim constituency along with Vijai and others on coming Sunday.
That Babush is slowly moving away to the Vijai camp was evident that he shared the dais with Vijai on Monday when the Independent MLA addressed a joint media conference with the former Velim ZP member to announce the second leg of the Maad Yatra in Velim.
The Goan understands that the Independent MLA has now entrusted the work of organising the Maad Yatra in Velim to Babush, who is not only a former ZP member, but is the brother-inÂ-law of incumbent Velim ZP member Mancy Rodrigues.
In the recent past, Babush was spotted with Vijai and his team at least on three occasions, and the Maad Yatra will not only come in handy for him to mobilise the people and show his strength, but also send a clear message to the Congress leadership of his popularity and strength in Velim.
When The Goan contacted Babush to shed light on his move to join the Maad Yatra in Velim, he said he has not done anything wrong by disclosing plans to join the rally. “It’s a Maad Yatra supported by the people of Goa. It's not a political movement. I do not see any reason why I should not lead or take part in the yatra," he said.
When his attention was drawn to reports that the Congress leadership is opposed to party rank and file joining Vijai’s Maad Yatra, Babush shot back, “I do not understand why the Congress should not allow workers to embrace the yatra. If the Congress leadership does not want workers to join the rally, then why the leadership did not deem fit of holding similar rallies across the State against the government's decision."
When Vijai was asked to comment on reports that he has launched the Maad Yatra to draw political mileage and at the same time promote his candidates which may damage the Congress in the 2017 election, Vijai shot back, “Where is the question of seeking mileage when I have been consistent in exposing the BJP government since the past four years. Reports that I am extracting political mileage from the coconut tree issue has no basis. I welcome those Congressmen who are joining the Maad Yatra. They are also concerned about Goenkarponn. It is for the Congress leaders to introspect why their party leaders and workers are joining the yatra."
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Luizinho Faleiro, however, tried to downplay the emerging development. “I am not bothered by these things," he said, while offering not to comment on the situation.
