SPOTLIGHT | Leadership crisis and infighting throw Cong off ahead of polls

PANAJI
While on one side it has been left without any alliance support, infighting among leaders has turned the Congress into a divided house. The Congress unit in Goa is getting into an internal tiff instead of analysing and coming together as a strong political front to counter the ruling BJP.
A series of interactions with various party members revealed that the State unit seems to be vertically divided, with the legislators and organisational wing not agreeing on various issues, including the three laws to regularise unauthorised structures and the recent buzz over former GPCC president Girish Chodankar returning to lead the party ahead of the Zilla Panchayat polls due in December.
Break with AAP and leadership disputes
Last week, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs officially announced that they had parted ways with the Congress ” a move that came hours after Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao declared on the floor of the House that the opposition was united inside and outside the Assembly.
Days later, the rift within the Congress camp was laid wide open over news of changes in the State party leadership. A faction within the party ” backing sitting chief Amit Patkar ” rushed to Bengaluru to meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who was not keen on meeting them and showed them the door.
Sources informed that a memorandum signed by several party leaders, including some block presidents supporting Patkar, was submitted to Kharge’s office. Interestingly, not a single MLA signed the letter.
“It is very clear that if Patkar is made to step down, he, along with many other leaders, will make his way out of the Congress. He has already expressed this before his supporters,” sources said, adding, “Congress is known for humiliating its own cadre.”
However, Patkar has ruled out any changes in the State leadership, calling it just “rumours” and “propaganda by the BJP”. “Congress is a democratic party. Don’t fall for rumours spread by the BJP. Every decision is taken in consultation with workers,” he said.
Uncertainty ahead of elections
Considering past history, several Congress members are against Chodankar taking over again.
“The purpose of our appointment with Kharge is to explain to him why Chodankar should not be sent to Goa at this stage. The party faced an electoral debacle under Chodankar’s leadership in the 2022 Assembly election. Chodankar coming back will worsen the party's situation in the State, and we cannot let that happen,” sources said.
It has been learnt that the MLAs are not very inclined to work with Patkar, nor are they comfortable working with Chodankar. Under such a situation, the party high command is reportedly looking at other options to lead the Congress in Goa ahead of the crucial elections lined up, starting with the ZP polls.