PANAJI
Taking a swipe at national parties swooping in on Goa ahead of the 2022 assembly polls, former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said that Goa was not some colony to be colonised by “some political party”.
The All India Congress Committee’s senior observer for the upcoming polls also said that recent history indicates that winning an election in Goa is a good omen and would clear the road to power in the national capital in 2024.
“There is only one message that this meeting conveys that Goa will be governed by Goans. I don’t have to say more. Goa is not a colony to be colonised by some political party. Goa will be ruled by Goans,” Chidambaram said, after the inauguration of the party’s central election office in the State capital.
“Goa cannot become a political colony of any invader. Goa must be governed by Goans, Goa is of Goans by Goans and for Goans,” Chidambaram said, adding that the Congress would be presenting leaders from a cross section of society in Goa soon.
The former Union Finance Minister who has been camping in the State for the last several days also said that history indicates that whoever wins Goa wins the general elections.
“Let me say one thing from history. Whoever wins Goa wins Delhi. In 2007 we won Goa, in 2009 we won Delhi. In 2012, we unfortunately lost Goa, in 2014 we lost Delhi. In 2017, you won Goa, but our legislators lost Goa and in 2019 we lost Delhi. This time we will win Goa in 2022 and we will win Delhi in 2024. Go forward with courage and confidence that victory is ours,” he said.
Chidambaram also urged Congress workers across the State to fan out and win the “hearts and minds” of people to ensure a Congress win in the 2022 elections.
“We have spent enough time planning and discussion. Now is the time to go into the field and start the work. Between now and 100 days from now, there will be elections. I do not know the date of the election, but let me count 100 days from today,” Chidambaram said.
“Every day we must move forward, win more hearts and minds, win more votes and send a credible message to the whole of Goa and the whole of India that Goa will see a Congress government in 2022,” he also said.
