PANAJI: AICC Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare on Saturday reiterated that the Congress is keeping its doors open to parties willing to unite against the BJP, saying the party has made efforts to bring the opposition together.
Speaking after a meeting to review preparations for the Congress' Goy Rakhonn Yatra, scheduled to begin on September 22, Thakare said the party had discussed the campaign's strategy, possible shortcomings and the need to make it successful.
“People who want to defeat BJP should come forward. Congress is a major party,” Thakare said. He said the Congress had reached out to parties including the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP), and would continue efforts to build a united opposition. “Be it the RGP party, be it Vijai Sardesai's party, or any party that wants to fight against the BJP, we have tried our best to bring them all together,” he said.
Thakare said the Congress would not close the door on potential allies despite differences in public positions. “We have always kept the doors open. We have never talked about closing them. As long as the people want, we will try to fight together against the BJP. This is the voice of the people, not ours,” he said.
Asked about statements and banners from other parties that have criticised the Congress, Thakare said his party would stick to its position of seeking opposition unity rather than engage in a public war of words. “Our senior leaders want to fight against the BJP together. Everyone has repeated this again and again. We have tried in all ways, and we will still do it,” he said.
On GFP chief Vijai Sardesai's call for parties to put “Goa First”, Thakare said the Congress had already made its position clear. “I have clarified the role of the Congress Party in front of you. It will maintain the same role,” he said. He also said parties seeking to take on the BJP should avoid statements that could undermine efforts to work together. “The party that wants to fight against the BJP, they should come together. They should not speak against each other,” Thakare said.
Thakare added that the Congress would continue to maintain a common position on the alliance question, with the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president expected to make formal statements on behalf of the state unit.
Thakare also defended the role of former GPCC president Amit Patkar amid questions over his participation in party-level discussions. He said Patkar had been invited to party committees and meetings and was expected to participate in discussions. “We have called him to every committee. He should come and give suggestions. He should speak in meetings,” he said.
On candidate selection, Thakare said the Congress was following its established process, and there was no confusion within the party. “The Congress Party is united and strong. Everyone is talking with one voice. There is no confusion in the Congress Party. All the leaders are together,” he said. He did not give a specific date for announcing candidates, saying the selection process would be undertaken as the election approaches.
Thakare said the September 22 Goy Rakhonn Yatra would raise issues including law and order, women's safety, environmental concerns, passenger safety and land-related matters. He said the Congress wanted the Yatra to become a platform for people and political groups who share concerns over the government's policies. “Whoever thinks that this is the right thing to do, all of them should come together in this Yatra. We request everyone to come together and make this Yatra successful,” he said.
With the Assembly elections around six months away, Thakare said the Congress would continue working towards building a united opposition. “Whoever wants to fight against the BJ, they need to prepare the environment in such a way to go together,” he said
