Photo caption. Former Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat sharing a point with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during the party rally at SAG ground, Fatorda in the presence of leader of the opposition, Pratapsing Rane. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar.
POLITICAL QUESTION
Will Kamat convince
naysayers of alliance?
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Will former Chief Minister and five-time Margao MLA Digambar Kamat succeed in bringing together like-minded and non-BJP political parties and individuals to unitedly take on the BJP in the coming poll?
This question has come to the fore in political circles on two counts: One, Kamat has been a strong votary of an alliance of like-minded political parties in a bid to dislodge the BJP in the coming election. And, secondly, he is one senior Congress leader, who can gel well with regional satraps and parties, including Babush Monserrate, Vishwajit Rane and Goa Forward party mentor, Vijai Sardesai.
In fact, sources in the know said that Kamat was scheduled to have a meeting with the father-son duo of Pratapsing and Vishwajit Rane to discuss the entire gamut of issues concerning the alliance. When The Goan called him up on Monday to ascertain the nature of discussions he had with the Ranes, Kamat said he is presently holed up in Chennai in connection with a meeting of the Olympic Association and would be back in Goa on Tuesday.
Sources said that Kamat is expected to meet Vijai Sardesai and Babush Monserrate too in the next couple of days after returning from Chennai. When asked whether the Congress will form an alliance with like-minded parties in the coming Goa election, he shot back, "The party high command is aware of the ground reality in Goa. I am confident that a positive decision will be taken in the next few days." I have conveyed my views on alliance to the high command, he added.
Sources in the know said that Kamat is believed to have reportedly conveyed to Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi during his recent visit to Goa that the Congress may contest in some 25 seats where the party has a strong network and leave the remaining seats to the like-minded parties. However, another faction calling the shots in the Congress party has argued before the high command that since the party had initiated the work of strengthening the party in all the 40 constituencies, the party may field candidates in all the seats.
With time running out and the election code of conduct expected to be enforced anytime from now, Kamat has come in sharp focus both within and outside the Congress party. Sources in the know said that Kamat is expected to be called to Delhi along with other state Congress leaders in the coming days before a final call is taken on the contentious issue of forging an alliance with non-BJP and like-minded political parties.
