MARGAO
Everything appeared quite in and around the residence of senior Congress MLA Digambar Kamat on Friday. Just a couple of weeks ago, in the run up to the 2022 Assembly polls, his ardent supporters were hoping that their Baba, as Kamat is affectionately called in the city, will return back to power as the State’s Chief Minister.
Michael Lobo’s appointment as Congress Legislature Party Leader (CLP) by the Congress High Command has left Kamat’s close aides and supporters shocked and disappointed. When Michael and Amit descended at Malbhat to seek his blessings before the start of their innings as the CLP leader and GPCC chief, Kamat was holed up in his office with one of his close aide, waiting to welcome the duo.
There was hardly any movement outside the office-cum-residence, but disappointment seemed writ large in the Kamat camp after news of Michael Lobo’s name being cleared for the CLP leader by the Congress High Command did the rounds since last night.
Even Kamat preferred to make a brief comment to the media after Michael and Amit paid a courtesy visit on him on Friday evening. “I told them that we will work together and unitedly. The party has taken a decision to hand over the reigns to the generation next. It’s alright. It’s a welcome decision,” Kamat reacted.
His workers in private, however, appeared unhappy with the High Command’s decision, terming the decision as an attempt to sideline the former Chief Minister in the scheme of things. A worker even went to the extent of asking a question whether the High Command would have made Kamat the CLP leader if the Congress returned to power with 21 and more seats.
“After all, the Congress did not project Kamat as the Chief Ministerial candidate. If one goes by the High Command’s decision, it is apparent that anything would have happened by now if the Congress had to win 21 seats and more in the election,” the worker remarked.
Another worker gave vent to his sentiments whether the High Command had taken the views of the newly-elected Congress MLAs before making the announcement. “We have no idea how the High Command has arrived at the decision on the CLP leadership,” the worker added.
Though the Congress did not project any particular leader for the post of Chief Minister, Kamat had gone around the State during the campaign that the people of Goa were looking for a change, hoping to see his return at the helm of affairs once again.
After the Congress had to be content with just 11 seats in the election, sources said supporters of the former Chief Minister had hoped that Kamat would be retained as the CLP leader once again, without realising that the High Command had other plans for the party in Goa.
After visiting Kamat, Lobo meets Vijai too
MARGAO: In an interesting development, newly-appointed Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Michael Lobo called on Goa Forward party chief, MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday.
Sources said the CLP leader dropped in at Sardesai’s residence after calling on Margao MLA Digambar Kamat. Michael’s meeting with Sardesai assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of reports that the Goa Forward chief may not be averse in joining the BJP-led government in the future.
While Sardesai confirmed that Michael paid a courtesy visit on him on Friday evening, sources said the duo discussed the political situation in the State, especially on the appointing of the new CLP leader and the GPCC chief by the Congress High Command.
