PIECE OF ADVICE FOR UNITY
* Bury differences and work as a team to ensure party's victory, Rahul is reported to have told the team from Goa
* Prominent in the team were GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro and Goa Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane
* The two Goa Cong bigwigs met the AICC vice president and held talks with him over the forthcoming polls in the State
* Congress Legislature Party was for grand alliance, but Pradesh Congress Committee opposed, according to a Cong legislator
* As the issue remained inconclusive, Rahul told the party leaders to begin working without relying on alliance
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DIDN'T ATTEND
Valpoi MLA Vishwajit​ Rane
IN DELHI, BUT MISSED
​Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco
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In what could be construed as a politics of cautiousness with an eye on the upcoming polls, All India Congress Committee vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday directed seven le​aders of Goa Congress to step up the beat of groundwork in all 40 constituencies without relying on a grand alliance to secure seats in any of the Assembly segments.
​​​Thursday’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi​ ​​gains significance as it provide​d​​ ​a platform for the first time to the votaries of alliance to convey their views and sentiments to the Congress high command.​
​The one-on-one exchanges witnessed those of the six-member GPC contingent, who have previously expressed support to the idea of an over-arching alliance, ​reiterate their hopes of allying with ​like-minded parties and individuals.
​Independent Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate and Nationalist Congress Party figured prominently at the meeting.
​However, Gandhi has asked the leaders to begin ground work in all 40 constituencies without depending on the possibility of allying with secular and like-minded individuals and parties.
​Considering its present figures in the House, Congress' cautious strategy of strengthening its hold across all Assembly segments could prove to be a preventive measure against arm twisting by possible alliance partners at a later stage in the campaign.
​The AICC vice president ​further delineated a clear path for GPCC​ while ask​ing​ the​ leaders to unite in attacking the ruling party and expose its shortcomings without being intimidated by the possibility of repercussions​ and without fearing politics of vengeance.​
​Assuring the GPCC of his readiness to join its leaders in agitating at any level ​ over issues of public importance, Gandhi urged the MLAs to work collectively for the party instead of focusing on individual fortresses. ​He has also asked them to hold on to their demands and to refrain from lobbying for offices in anticipation of poll victory for Congress.
During the session which lasted almost four hours, the ​AICC vice president​ ​had ​a ​one-on-one discussion for around 15 to 20 minutes each with ​six GPCC leaders including the ​two MLAs Chandrakant 'Babu' Kavalekar and Digambar Kamat, Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Raoji Rane, GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro, former chief minister Ravi Naik and AICC secretary Girish Chodankar.
This was followed by a joint discussion between Gandhi and the six Congressmen in the presence of AICC general secretary in-charge of Goa Digvijay Singh and AICC secretary Dr A Chella Kumar.
​Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco couldn't participate in this crucial engagement as his flight was delayed. Reginaldo arrived in Delhi only during the latter half of the day.
Valpoi MLA Vishwajit​ Rane ​was conspicuous by his absence despite having confirmed his attendace previously. It was learnt that Vishwajit communicated in advance that his father will represent his demands and suggestions before the AICC.​
