the goan I network
MARGAO
Will Year 2019 see the return of the Congress government in the State, more than a year-and-half after the party was given the mandate as the single largest party in the 2017 Assembly election?
After the return of the party in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chathisgarh, local Congress leaders are certainly looking forward to form an alternate government in 2019, hoping the ensuing Lok Sabha poll due later this year will bring a turnaround in the political fortunes of the Opposition party.
Party leaders in private exuded confidence that the resurgence of the Congress in the Hindi speaking states will have a bearing in the coming Lok Sabha poll, confident enough that the fall of the NDA at the Centre will ensue the collapse of the BJP-led coalition government in Goa.
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who has emerged as a strong Congress probable to lead the Congress government in Goa, said that people of Goa certainly look forward for the return of the Congress-led government in the State in the year 2019. He, however, declined to comment on the timing of Congress’ return in the State, dropping hints that the change in political guard may take place after the Lok Sabha poll. “The aspirations of the people of Goa are clear that they want to see the return of the Congress government in the State. Goans by and large are anxiously waiting for the return of the Congress to power in 2019. Only the question of the timings of the Congress’ return remains undecided,” Kamat said.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Girish Chodankar echoed similar sentiments, but also sounded a cautious note in the formation of an alternate government. “The party’s stand is clear that the Congress will not shy away from forming an alternate government in the event the BJP-led government crumbles on its own weight. However, I would also like to caution here that for the Congress, forming a government just for the sake of forming a government is not on the Congress agenda. We will deliberate and decide whether it would be wise to form an alternate government and whether the alternate government would help resolve the contentious issues plaguing Goa and Goans,” Girish asserted.
The GPCC chief further made it clear that the Congress would not comprise on the aspirations of the common man just for the sake of forming an alternate government. “There are so many contentious issues facing the people of Goa. The moot question is whether the Congress would be in a position to resolve these issues which are not of the making of the Congress party,” he added.
When asked whether the Congress would align with the regional parties such as the Goa Forward to form an alternate government, Girish shot back “as and when the Congress forms a government in the State, it would be solely on issues and not based on individuals or political parties”.
He, however, asserted that the Congress is prepared to face even a mid-term election if it is thrust on the people
by the BJP.
