MARGAO
What does the Congress decision on continuance of GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar and Opposition leader Digambar Kamat hold for the proposed alliance of like-minded parties in 2022?
Political observers say the decision may come as a mixed blessing for the alliance of like-minded parties to take on the BJP in the coming polls. For, while the GPCC Chief’s stand on alliance is well known, openly batting for the Congress to go it alone, Opposition leader Digambar Kamat and newly-appointed working president Alexio Sequeira, sources say, may not be averse in stitching strategic alliances with other parties.
Political observers say the new arrangement may favour an alliance with like-minded parties, but on Congress party’s terms. This may throw up a pertinent question whether the Congress would be willing to concede seats eyed upon by the small parties such as the Goa Forward, which has already kicked up its campaign since August 1. “Both Digambar and Alexio may be open for an alliance, but much would depend on the GPCC chief on the number of seats the party would like to concede to the partners”, sources said.
He added: “When the Goa Forward has targeted around 10-12 constituencies and having already started work in 5-6 seats so far, how the Congress would accommodate the interests of the regional party remains a big question”.
Similar is the case in respect with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The party is representing Benaulim seat in the Goa Assembly and may be looking forward not only to retain Benaulim, but field candidates in other seats as well, including Vasco.
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai preferred to offer no comments on the developments unfolding in the Congress party, saying the leadership issue is the internal affairs of the Congress.
He, however, said the alliance ball lies in the court of the Congress party. “The Congress leadership has to take an early call on the alliance issue in its own interest. The Goa Forward Party has already hit the ground from August 1 to build the party base ahead of the 2022 election”, Sardesai said.
Saying that he does not want to go into the question whether the presence of Girish at the GPCC helm will affect prospects of coming together of like-minded parties, Sardesai, however, cautioned the Congress not to take other parties for granted.
NCP lone MLA Churchill Alemao said he does not want to comment on the internal affairs of the Congress party. He, however, hastened to add that the NCP is capable to go alone in the 2022 election. “NCP national general secretary Praful Patel is visiting the state on September 2. We will take stock of the political developments in the state”, Churchill added.
