Reiterates 2017 will not be repeated in 2022
MARGAO
Asserting that the repeat of 2017 will not happen in 2022, Congress election observer P Chidambaram on Sunday descended on Navelim, reminding Navelkars that the constituency has always been the Congress party’s bastion, even as he exuded confidence that the party will win the seat once again in the 2022 Assembly election.
The Congress election observer gave a categorical assurance to the people that the Congress will not allow Goa to be turned into a coal hub, further asserting that no coal transportation for Maharashtra and Karnataka will be permitted on Goan roads.
Chidambaram’s statement assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of Congress veteran Luizinho Faleiro quitting the party to embrace the Trinamool Congress.
The Congress election observer did not make any reference to Faleiro in his address, but sent a strong message to the party cadre that the party will retain the Navelim seat.
After being flooded with a host of questions on party matters, including the 2017 episode and the defections of Congress legislators, Chidambaram ruled out a repeat of 2017 in 2022.
“We are selecting the candidates based on the decision of the workers. Hence, the repeat of 2017 will not happen again,” he added.
When a worker questioned whether the party has any answer in the event MLAs defect, Chidambaram said the workers will be equally responsible if anything goes wrong since the they shortlisted the candidates based on loyalty.
Saying the Congress will never forgive the MLAs who had betrayed the party, Chidambaram maintained defectors will never be taken back into the party fold in the future.
While giving a categorical assurance that the Congress will not allow Goa to be turned into a coal hub, Chidambaram further said that the party will scrap the three linear projects.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat tore into the BJP government’s performance, holding the party responsible for the ills plaguing the state, including inflation.
Kamat said people of Goa are of the firm stand that the BJP-led government should not be allowed to return to power in 2022.
South Goa District President Joe Dias, PCC Vice-president, M K Sheikh and party observers were present.
The two candidates who have been shortlisted by the Navelim block, Avertano Furtado and Rehan Muzzawar, were also seated in the audience.
