Congress steps up Fatorda push amid alliance uncertainty

MARGAO
The Congress has further escalated its turf war with alliance partner Goa Forward and the BJP in Fatorda, challenging both parties to spell out the development work they have undertaken in the constituency during their respective terms in power.
The Fatorda Block Congress Committee has stepped up its campaign in Fatorda, the home turf of Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, with a social media post declaring, “We all together can bring back the lost glorious days of Fatorda.”
As part of its campaign, the Block Congress has sought answers from both Goa Forward and the BJP, asking the parties to explain their developmental record in the constituency.
Targeting Goa Forward, the Congress questioned the state of infrastructure in Fatorda and sought to know what has changed on the ground over the last 15 years. It also raised questions over promises made versus the ground reality, accountability for projects undertaken during previous terms and transparency in their execution.
The Fatorda Block Congress also trained its guns on the BJP-led government, questioning its handling of Hospicio Hospital (South Goa District Hospital) and the deteriorating condition of the SGPDA market. The party also sought to know why the government had failed to address these issues and demanded accountability for its governance.
The latest social media post assumes significance as the Fatorda Block Congress, led by president Yogesh Nagvenkar, has previously claimed that the development projects currently in place in Fatorda were largely executed by previous Congress governments.
The renewed activity of the Block Congress also comes at a politically sensitive juncture, with seat-sharing talks between the Congress and Goa Forward currently stalled. Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai had suspended talks with the Congress leadership last week, adding another layer of uncertainty to the alliance ahead of the electoral battle.
The Congress’s increasingly assertive campaign in Fatorda, therefore, signals a sharpening of political competition in a constituency that Goa Forward has traditionally regarded as its stronghold.