MARGAO
Three new faces, two sitting MLAs and as many veterans of many a political battle. That’s the line-up of Team Congress in Salcete as the opposition party is gearing up for the battle of the ballot to regain its lost glory in its traditional stronghold after an unprecedented rout in the 2012 election.
In 2012, the Congress was decimated in its traditional bastion, with the party’s tally reduced to an unprecedented two out of the eight seats at stake. Heavyweights including the Alemao brothers, Churchill and Joaquim, besides Aleixo Sequeira, Filipe Neri Rodrigues were sent packing home.
Eager to cash in on the resentment against the ruling BJP and ward off criticism that the Congress has no place for young blood, the composition of the team suggests one thing -- that the Congress leadership has tried to strike a balance between the demands of old guard and Young Turks, while maintaining continuity with the nomination of two sitting MLAs, five-time Margao MLA and former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and two-time Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
The decision to nominate as many as three new faces appears part of a calculated strategy by the Congress leadership to contain criticism that the party is opposed to bring in new blood into politics, though the choice of the Benaulim candidate is a subject matter of debate, while it is perceived by many in Congress circles that the decision to axe former Minister Aleixo Sequeira and Joaquim Alemao, was also part of a move to get rid of opponents to the current leadership.
While sitting MLAs, Digambar Kamat and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has got the re-nomination, party veteran Luizinho Faleiro returns to electoral politics after a gap of 10 years. Defeated in 2012 election, Filipe Neri Rodrigues has found favour with the party for the Velim seat. The three new faces, including Clafacio Dias for the Cuncolim seat, Wilfred D’Sa in Nuvem and Edwin Barretto in Benaulim.
In the bargain, many an old guards have been left in the cold, some of whom have quit the party for better prospects or opted for retirement. These include former party leaders and ministers including the Alemao brothers, Churchill and Joaquim and heavyweight Aleixo Sequeira. The claim of former Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha also did not find favour with the Congress leadership.
Says Congress youth leader and AICC Secretary, Girish Chodankar: “I feel that the Team Congress in Salcete is a well balanced side taking into account all the circumstances. The team is blend of both freshers and experience. I think the party leadership has put up a formidable team which can help regain the party’s lost glory in Salcete."
Two-time Congress MLA, Reginaldo Lourenco, who had taken up cudgels for new and young faces, said the party did try to go for a blend of old and new, but hastened to add that there was room for improvement. “No doubt, the party gave three new faces, but there was still room to give tickets to one or two more faces. But, since the team is now ready, we have to just go out and play to defeat the BJP," Reginaldo said.
Says political commentator, Cleofato Coutinho: “I am of the opinion that Team Congress in Salcete is the best bet for the opposition party. The Congress has constituted a formidable team, which I feel can help the party to regain the lost ground in Salcete and help win maximum seats and keep the party in good stead this time round."
