In a candid chat with GUILHERME ALMEIDA, the newly-appointed president of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee GIRISH CHODANKAR speaks his mind out on various issues, including the chances of Congress forming an alternate govt in the State and the party's stand on the burning issue of RP21 that plagues Goa-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Goan Everyday (Goan): No sooner were you appointed the new Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president, word went out that the Congress should no longer hope to form an alternate government for the next four years. Comment.
Girish Chodankar (Girish): The Congress leadership is clear that unless the people in the government withdraw their support, an alternate government cannot be formed. People had given the mandate to the Congress, but it was robbed by the BJP and the alliance partners. The BJP was routed, but they manipulated their way back. Since it is a game of numbers, we cannot now form the government with 16 MLAs. The decision has to come from the alliance partners and this can come only when the alliance partners withdraw support to the government.
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Goan: Frankly speaking, can the Congress ever hope to form an alternate government minus the Goa Forward Party?
Girish: Anything is possible. I can tell you, Goa Forward Party is not the only available option. But, there has to be discussions and deliberations, first within the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). The CLP has to take the lead. There’s no harm in discussing the issue within the CLP and with senior leaders.
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Goan: One of the reasons why most of the party MLAs had rallied behind Digambar Kamat for the top post of GPCC was that they believed that the former Chief Minister may help form a Congress-led alternate government given his relationship with BJP’s alliance partners. This confidence now seemed missing amongst the party MLAs. Comment.
Girish: Such reports have been doing the rounds in political circles for the last one year. But, much water has flown down the river Mandovi since then and the ground reality has remained unchanged. We have to be cautious. We just cannot believe in certain things. Just because we believed in these reports, the organization has suffered. In a democratic polity, you have to be either in the government or in the opposition. The people of Goa had given the Congress the mandate to rule, but the alliance partners have pushed the party to play the role of opposition.
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Goan: Now that you are the state Congress president, do you think that you will be able to gel well with the CLP members when they were not in favour of your candidature?
Girish: Certainly, yes. I share excellent relationship with all the party MLAs. I have nothing against them. In a democracy, one is free to opt for a particular decision. If they had supported a particular candidate, it was their democratic right to do so. After my appointment, I have started meeting each and every MLA and senior leaders. The GPCC and the CLP will work in close coordination and cooperation in the interest of the party and the people of Goa.
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Goan: What exactly is the party’s stand on the controversial RP 21. While Congress leaders and MLAs were present at the Lohia Maidan rally, it is said that some of the MLAs had in the past supported the operationalization of the RP? Comment.
Girish: For the Congress party, the election manifesto is its guide. It is a document which should guide our actions. We had promised in our 2017 election manifesto to scrap the PDAs and the RP 21. We have to stick to our manifesto. We cannot change our stand. The people of Goa had reposed their faith in the Congress and given the party the majority seats based on certain promises made during the elections. There’s anger amongst the people because they had voted against the RP and the PDAs. You cannot play with the sentiments of the people.
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Goan: The Congress seems unclear on party’s stand on mining.
Girish: The party’s stand on mining is clear, that mining should start as per the Supreme Court directives and by the Mines and Minerals Act. The fate of 1.5 lakh mining dependents is at stake. The government should act fast and start mining operations based on the SC order and the Act. We are ready to support the government, but somewhere, things have not been moving in the right directions. The government should stop making false promises.
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Goan: With Congress president Rahul Gandhi laying stress on youth in the party scheme of things, what role do you foresee for the senior party leaders in the party in Goa?
Girish: Senior party leaders have the experience and expertise with them. We need to tap their experience for the party’s progress. Guidance of the seniors and energy of the youth would be used for the party’s growth. Everyone is important for the party, including the seniors.
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Goan: It is reported in party circles that you may be the choice of the Congress party for the South Goa seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Girish: I had never gone after positions or power during my two decades in the party. Only once I had asked for the Assembly ticket, and I was not considered. Thereafter, I contested two elections, but it was not based on my decision, but on the directives of the party. It is for the party to take a call on the candidate for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat. It will be a collective decision. I am always ready for any job entrusted to me by the party.
