PANAJI
With the Goa Congress grappling with internal differences and the resignation of 108 booth-level agents, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday issued a strong call for unity, warning party leaders and workers that unless they remained united, the BJP would succeed in dividing the organisation ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Addressing the GPCC’s BLA and booth-level convention ‘Ekvot’ in Goa, Kharge said the party could not expect its workers and supporters to remain united if its leaders themselves were divided. He indirectly hinted that internal differences cannot be allowed to weaken the party before the 2027 electoral battle.
“Leaders need to be united and only then people and workers will be united. If leaders are not united, everyone will follow their own leader. You should have unity,” Kharge said. Making a direct appeal to the party’s Goa unit, Kharge said Congress was strong in the State but needed to stand together to convert that strength into an electoral victory. “I want to make it clear, there is no doubt Congress in Goa is strong, but united we need to stand strong. Unity mein hi sab kuch hai. There can be diversity, but unity is very important,” he said. “BJP is trying to create a divide within us. We need to be united to protect our country, our ideology, our party and the Constitution,” he said. Kharge also launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government in Goa, accusing it of coming to power through defections. “BJP government in Goa is choro ki sarkar and these people are teaching us morality,” Kharge said, alleging that Congress MLAs had switched sides for power.
He claimed that out of the BJP’s 12 ministers, 10 were former Congress leaders and accused those who defected of being “cowards” and “gaddars”.
“Do not vote for these gaddars who sacrifice their soul for power,” he said. Kharge also promised that if Congress returned to power in 2027, it would make Goa “nasha mukt”, provide employment, crack down on illegal activities and protect the State’s land, air and water.
“Goem vikpak divche na, BJPk jikpak divche na,” Kharge said, calling upon Goans to vote for development and against the BJP.
AICC Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakare also issued a warning to party leaders against anti-party activities and publicly criticising the organisation.
“Congress will not spare anyone involved in anti-party activities. We will not tolerate anyone speaking against the party or going to the media and speaking. Our unity is our message to the BJP,” Thakare said.
He urged workers to set aside personal grievances and individual interests, asserting that “Congress does not belong to two or three people; it belongs to all”.
GPCC chief Girish Ch odankar said the booth-level organisation was the foundation of the party and expres sed confidence that Congress would form a “people’s government” in 2027. “Our booth workers are our foundation. Unless they reach out to people and listen to their grievances, we will not be able to come to power,” he said. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said Congress was determined to win and claimed the party would secure 27 seats in 2027.
“Unity is our biggest strength. We have to be united whatsoever. This is a fight for Goa and for the future generation,” Alemao said, alleging that the BJP was trying to divide not just Congress but Goa and its people. Congress MP Viriato Fernandes too stressed that booth workers and BLAs were the party’s biggest strength.
“Unity is very important if we have to come to power. Differences of opinion exist in every family and political party, but that does not mean we should divide our party,” he said. Former GPCC chief Amit Patkar was present at the ‘Ekvot’ convention, where his presence was acknowledged and welcomed by party leaders in their speeches.
