CANACONA
What was meant to be an effort by Congress to rejuvenate and strengthen the party at the grassroots ended up exposing major differences within the rank and file during the party’s ‘Chetna Yatra’ in Canacona on Saturday.
GPCC General Secretary and Congress candidate Janardhan Bhandari walked out of the meeting after being upset over the presence of Mahadev Dessai, a former GPCC secretary who had revolted against the party and contested on the TMC banner at the 2022 Assembly elections.
The meeting was addressed by GPCC President Amit Patkar and GPCC Working President Yuri Alemao at Shristhal-Canacona on Saturday.
When contacted, Dessai confirmed the sudden departure of Bhandari during the meeting.
“On seeing my presence, Bhandari left the hall, surprising all participants including the GPCC president and working president,” Dessai said.
“I have worked for the Congress party for the last 17 years but was denied the party ticket at the last moment which forced me to contest on the TMC ticket. But I continue to be a staunch Congress worker.”
"GPCC President Amit Patkar had invited me along with my long-term associates -- former Gaondongrim sarpanch Rajendra Velip and Kishore Desai to the ‘Chetna Yatra' meet. Bhandari who himself fared badly in the 2022 assembly elections, however, walked out of the meeting,” said Dessai.
Canacona Congress Block President Prahlay Bhagat, Congress Spokesperson Pallavi Bhagat and a few other party workers attended the meeting, which was addressed by Patkar and Alemao.
Incidentally, Bhandari had appealed to all office bearers and workers of all frontal organisations of the party to participate in the ‘Chetna Yatra’ and to support the Congress party to strengthen its presence in Canacona.
Despite efforts, Bhandari and Congress Block President Prahlay Bhagat refused to attend to calls or reply to messages.
