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Battlefield Fatorda
Key players: Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai and his Congress challengers “ GPCC Chief Luizinho Faleiro and National NSUI Chief Girish Chodankar
Battle: The 2017 Assembly election
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intro: Less than a week after outspoken Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai vowed to form a new regional party by January 26, the battle lines appear to be gradually taking shape in his home turf Fatorda, reports Guilherme Almeida
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Lying low and down in the dumps post the Â2012 Assembly election, the Congress leadership were groping in the dark to strengthen its base in its once stronghold Fatorda. But, with the Independent MLA disclosing ambitious political plans, a move that threatens to damage the party’s interests, the Congress appears to be eying Fatorda’s fertile political turf in a bid to regain lost ground and take on the irrepressible MLA head on in the run-up to the poll.
To achieve the grand objective and send a signal loud and clear to the Fatorda MLA that the
party will no longer take things lying down, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Chief
Luizinho Faleiro has roped in Sardesai’s longstanding political rival and national in-Âcharge of the
student’s wing of the Congress, NSUI Girish Chodankar, to lead the party’s comeback campaign in
the constituency, which has not elected the Congress since 2002.
The PCC Chief has already inducted Vijai’s bete noire and former Margao Municipal councillor
Ethel Lobo into the Mahila Congress. And, The Goan understands that the party leadership,
including Faleiro and Chodankar, had interactions with former Margao Municipal chairpersons
who are now sworn political enemies of the Independent MLA, besides former councillors and
many an unsuccessful candidate who contested in the recently-held Municipal election.
With less than 15 months to go for the 2017 Assembly poll, and with Sardesai planning to field
candidates in many a constituency across the state, the game-plan of the Congress leadership
appears to hit back at the Independent MLA and strengthen the party base, starting from
Fatorda.
“The Congress has waited for far too long in Fatorda, but things have reached a stage wherein the
party has to strengthen the party in Fatorda and prepare for the 2017 election. The party will soon
launch a massive membership drive in the constituency as part of the programme,” GPCC Chief
Faleiro told The Goan.
Girish Chodankar is not new in Fatorda’s politics, having been the youth Congress president
before moving to the state level in the 90s. Perceived as a close Faleiro loyalist, Girish had lost
out to Sardesai for the party ticket in 2007, before he moved to Delhi to head the NSUI.
“Yes, I have accepted the request of the GPCC president to supervise and coÂordinate with the
party observers for Fatorda and also to interact with all the Congress leaders and workers on re-
building the Congress. The task seemed uphill, but it is not impossible,” Girish told The Goan.
Incidentally, Girish has sought permission from the Party Delhi leadership to devote more time in
Goa than in Delhi with the state heading for election in 2015.
“I have been allowed to devote 60Â-70 per cent time in Goa and the balance in Delhi. The Congress leadership will reÂbuild the party in Fatorda,” he informed, while adding that the process of consultations, interactions have got underway ahead of the intensive membership drive.
Sources in the Congress said that Faleiro and Girish already had separate interactions with many
a former MMC chairperson and councillors to pave way for their entry into the Congress. It’s still
unclear whether the party will dissolve the Fatorda block or expand with additional members. For,
Fatorda block Congress Block President Tito Cardozo is perceived as having come close to the Independent MLA, which was evident by his re-Âelection on Sardesai’s Fatorda Forward panel.
“The party will soon enter into a dialogue with the block President and other members. After my interaction, I will submit a detailed report on the Fatorda block to my party president on how to go about the work vis-ÂÃ -Âvis the Fatorda block,” Girish said.
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infobox
CONG TO TAKE ON VIJAI
- GPCC Chief Luizinho Faleiro has roped in Vijai’s longstanding political rival and NSUI's national in-Âcharge Girish Chodankar to lead the party’s comeback campaign in Fatorda
- Luizinho has already inducted Vijai’s bete noire and former MMC councillor Ethel Lobo into Mahila Congress
- Faleiro and Chodankar have interacted with former MMC chairpersons who are now sworn political enemies of the Fatorda MLA, besides former councillors and other unsuccessful candidates who contested in the recently-held municipal poll
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interview
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intro: Girish Chodankar is not new to Fatorda politics, having been the helm of Youth Congress around a decade ago. He enjoys a close rapport with GPCC Chief Luizinho Faleiro, who has drafted him on the mission to reÂbuild the Congress party in Fatorda represented by Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai. By appointing Girish, the PCC chief has sent a message to the Vijai camp that the Congress means business in Fatorda. The Goan spoke to Girish on his brief in Fatorda and his personal political agenda in the constituency
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Fatorda has been Congress' base: Chodankar
The Goan: What exactly is your brief in Fatorda? The GPCC Chief has chosen you to lead
the party’s comeback campaign in the constituency.
Girish: My brief is simple. I have been drafted by my party president to strengthen and reÂbuild
the party ahead of the 2017 Assembly election. Since the last three years and half, the Fatorda
Congress block has not done anything to reÂbuild the party after the 2012 election. We have been quiet for a long time. Faleiro has now told me to reÂorganise the block. I have already contacted our
Congress workers and former Youth Congress workers.
The Goan: What is the assessment of the Congress organization in Fatorda when the
Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai had emerged as the sole leader against the BJP? The panel
floated by the MLA had routed the BJP 11-Â0 in the municipal poll.
Girish: I know the task given to me by the party leadership is difficult, but is not impossible.
Fatorda has been Congress' base. But, we have a challenge before us to reach out to the
people and take up issues plaguing the common man viz garbage, stinking markets, etc.
Politics is not only to get power, but to serve the people.
The Goan: Your assignment may once again bring you face-to-face with your rival and MLA
Vijai Sardesai.
Girish: I have been given a clear brief by my party president, and there isn’t going to be any
compromise while executing the work of strengthening the Congress in Fatorda. It does not
matter whether my work will bring me face-to-face with the Independent MLA.
The Goan: Will Girish Chodankar be the Congress candidate for Fatorda in 2017?
Girish: I do not know. I am coming to Fatorda as per my President’s instructions. I had asked for
the party ticket in 2007, but the leadership offered the ticket to Vijai Sardesai. Since then, I have
never asked for the ticket. The Congress leadership will take a decision regarding the ticket.
