MARGAO
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s appointment as the Chairman of the Congress campaign committee in Goa by Congress President Rahul Gandhi has thrown up questions whether the Margao MLA is a step away from being crowned as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party to take over the reigns as and when the Congress forms an alternate government.
His appointment also assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of deep resentment brewing amongst his supporters that their “Baba” is being sidelined in the Congress scheme of things.
Pose this question to the six-time Margao MLA and he was quick to remind that he had not only successfully discharged whatever responsibilities entrusted to him by the party, but managed to complete the five-year tenure as state Chief Minister between 2007 and 2012.
Asked for his reaction upon being handpicked by Congress President Rahul Gandhi to lead the party’s campaign panel, Kamat replied, “The party is aware of the manner in which I have discharged my responsibilities in the past. Let me tell you, the Congress had never lost an election when I was the Chief Minister between 2007 and 2012. Despite all odds, the party had won the Lok Sabha bypoll and the 2009 Lok sabha poll. During the same period, the party had emerged victorious in other elections as well.”
When his attention was drawn to reports doing the rounds in Congress circles that he is a step away from leading the party if the Congress decides to form an alternate government, Kamat said,
“I believe in the almighty. What is destined for me will take place. I had never been after any position. My election as the Congress Chief Minister is a classic example. My name was suggested for the coveted post when I had left Cidade de Goa to return home, only to be informed minutes later that the party leadership has zeroed in on me to head the Congress government,” Kamat told The Goan.
He further pointed out that he had successfully led the Congress-led coalition government and complete the full five-year term. “I do not think there’s any other Chief Minister post-Goa attaining Statehood, who has completed full term in office. Despite all odds, I had completed my full term in office,” he recalled.
While the All India Congress Committee’s letter approving the campaign committee for Goa headed by Digambar Kamat comes ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha poll, sources in the Congress party informed that the Margao MLA will be asked to play a major role in the bypoll for the Mandrem and Shiroda Assembly constituencies not only to ensure the Congress wins the two seats and work towards cobbling the required numbers to form an alternate government.
This is the first time in half a decade that the Congress high command has handpicked the former Chief Minister with the responsibility to bring about a turnaround in the party fortunes. His appointment as the Chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee for Goa is also seen as an attempt by the party leadership to assuage the sentiments of Kamat’s supporters, as an impression was gaining ground in his camp that the former Chief Minister was deliberately sidelined in the party’s scheme of things.
In fact, Wednesday saw his close aides led by PCC Members Damu Shirodkar, Doris Texeira and Margao Block Committee President Gopal Naik and others profusely thanking Rahul Gandhi for handpicking their “Baba” to lead the party campaign committee. “The Congress had never lost an election under the leadership of our Baba, be it the Lok Sabha bypoll, the 2009 Lok Sabha election and elections for the local bodies. We will work hard to strengthen hands of our leader and ensure that the Congress flag flies high again,” Damu Shirodkar told the media.
