Congress uneasy as alliance partner inducts former MLA, going against its ‘no-defectors’ policy
MARGAO
Rumblings were heard loud and clear in the Opposition camp on Wednesday as the Goa Forward Party went ahead with its plan to formally induct former Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes into the regional party.
The move, sources said, did not go down well with the Congress leadership as well as the party rank and file, with questions raised within the principal Opposition party on whether it is prudent for the alliance partners to open the doors to defectors when the Congress has taken a conscious decision to keep them out.
While Goa Forward leaders led by supremo Vijay Sardesai have maintained that Isidore is neither the party’s Zilla Panchayat candidate nor the candidate for the 2027 Assembly election, Congress insiders say the regional party has gone ahead with Isidore’s induction despite reservations expressed by the principal Opposition party.
“How can the alliance partners induct defectors into their parties when the Congress has taken a conscious decision to keep the defectors out? What message will the alliance send to the people of Goa if the Congress shuts the doors on the defectors and the alliance partners open the door for them?” remarked a Congress leader.
In fact, Congress leadership is waiting for Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and Congress MLA Alton D’Costa to brief the party on the status of talks with the two regional parties — Goa Forward Party and the Revolutionary Goans Party — on the proposed Grand Opposition Alliance (GOA).
Congress unwilling to concede any of the nine seats to alliance partners
What may further bring the Congress and the Goa Forward Party face-to-face is the Congress party’s stand to contest all nine seats at stake in Salcete taluka. Though no final decision has been taken by the Congress party, sources informed that the party leadership has come under increasing pressure from the party rank and file that the Congress should contest all nine seats up for grabs in Salcete.
Such a situation, sources said, may bring the Goa Forward and the Congress face-to-face. The Goa Forward Party has already kicked off its campaign for the Raia seat and is scouting for a potential candidate to contest the Davorlim seat, both in Salcete.
A Goa Forward Party leader said the regional party would not compromise on Raia come what may, on the grounds that the party has already started its door-to-door campaign in the constituency. “We had announced our plan for Raia and Davorlim around two months ago. In tune with our decision, we have already started our campaign in Raia. There is no question of withdrawing from the fray. As far as Davorlim is concerned, we are still scouting, the party is scouting for a formidable candidate,” remarked a senior Congress leader.
