MARGAO
Salcete’s political players seemed keenly watching the political developments unfolding in the Congress party, especially against the backdrop of reports of a change in the State Congress party leadership.
In fact, local players including Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai termed the emerging the developments in the principal opposition party as significant, but at the same time hoped that the changes expected in within the Congress will be for the better and not for worse.
“Let us wait and see the changes in the Congress. One thing is clear that the Opposition cannot ignore the main opposition forces. They can act as a spoil sport as was seen in the just concluded election for the Corporation of the City of Panjim. At the same time, we do not expect the Congress leadership to ridicule and poke fun of the opposition forces”, Sardesai said, while saying that the time has come for all parties opposing the BJP to unite to defeat them in the 2017 election. “When I say that the changes in the Congress party will be for the better, I mean that the new Congress party leadership will take into account the ground reality and taking everyone along to defeat the BJP in the coming election”, the Independent MLA said.
Sources say the news that Congress High Command will finally relieve Faleiro from the post should come as welcome news for the Independent MLA on two counts: One, Sardesai has been vocal in his complaint that his plea for a grand alliance had found hardly any takers in the Congress during Luizinho’s tenure. In fact, he had pointed accusing fingers at the local Congress leadership for forcing anti-BJP forces to float the regional Goa Forward Party.
Secondly, Sardesai was sore that the Congress leadership tried to engage him in Fatorda by first re-constituting the Block Congress Committee stuffed with his political opponents and even going to the extent of appointing former South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha as the party coordinator for Fatorda.
