MARGAO
In what is perceived as a confidence-building measure aimed at regaining the trust of the party core voter base ahead of the 2022 elections, Congress election observer P Chidambaram had a tete-a-tete at a “Balcao Bhasa Bas” programme with citizens from a cross section of the society here on Sunday.
As the senior Congress leader faced a volley of questions on contentious issues such as loyalty, defections et al, the Harvard-educated economist did some plain talking saying one does not drive down a car in reverse gear, giving a message that one cannot erase past history, but can certainly look forward for a positive future.
Senior state party leaders, including GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar, Opposition leader Digambar Kamat, three-time MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, working president Alexio Sequeira and other leaders were all seated on the dais with Chidambaram, while senior counsel and party leader Adv Carlos Ferreia Alvares moderated the interaction at a city hotel here on Sunday morning.
The Bhasa Bas, sources said, centered on the contentious issues plaguing the Goa Congress, right from defections, to loyalty of party leaders, declaration of party candidates well in advance, et al.
One of the participants even made a strong case for an Amendment to the 10th Schedule to put a stop to the defections by Members of the Legislative Assembly.
A question over alliance, sources said, was raised by one of the participants. As usual, however, Chidambaram refused to shed light on the Congress party’s stand on alliances with like-minded parties. He is believed to have requested the participant to exercise patient, saying forging alliances is not an easy thing. “We have to take into consideration various factors while discussing alliances, the strengths and weakness of the rivals in each constituency”, he said, while conveniently dodging the question.
Chidambaram had to face a volley of questions on loyalty and defections plaguing the party over the years. He came clear on defectors, asserting the doors of the party are shut for the defectors, who brought downfall of the party. Saying that history cannot be erased, Chidambaram offered hope that the party would ensure that defections do not take place in the party in the future. “We have committed some mistakes in the past. We cannot erase history, but we can certainly rectify the mistakes and look forward for the future”, he added.
On announcement of party candidates well in advance, Chidambaram is believed to have not come clear on announcing the candidates, saying candidates will be announced when the election dates are announced by the Election Commission. A participant informed that the senior Congress leader was of the view that a month from the election would be the ideal time for the leadership to unveil the candidates, indicating that the party isn’t going to rush with the announcement of candidates.
