Congress moves on from old guard as 'Young Turks' take forward poll baton

Attribute it to a generation change or simply defection by the party heavyweights, coupled with the fact that many seasoned politicians embraced other parties or have preferred to stay away from the hustle and bustle of electoral politics, one no longer comes across members of the Old Guard in the party’s ongoing campaign for the May 7 election.

In fact, Congress' young leaders, including Goa Pradesh Congress Committee chief Amit Patkar, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares, South Goa District Committee president Savio D’Silva, have descended on the field ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

Otherwise, consider this. A file photo (see left) of the Congress meeting held at the Lohia Maidan, Margao in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election speaks of the ground reality. At the Lohia Maidan meeting, a host of party heavyweights and former chief ministers, including Luizinho Faleiro, Digambar Kamat, besides Francisco Sardinha were all seen seated on the dais along with Chandrakant Kavlekar, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Clafacio Dias, Wilfred D’Sa, Altinho Gomes, Beena Naik and M K Sheikh.

Five years down the line, Digambar is no more with the Congress after having embraced the BJP in 2022. Former CM Luizinho Faleiro has not joined any party after quitting the Trinamool Congress. Sitting MP Sardinha has declared that he would not join the Congress campaign. Chandrakant Kavlekar, Filipe Neri, Clafacio and Wilfred had all quit the Congress in 2019 to join the BJP.

A close look at the 2019 photograph would reveal that barring M K Sheikh, Altinho Gomes and Beena Naik, the Congress Mahila Morcha chief, the heavyweights sitting on the dais have either joined the BJP or other parties or have now preferred to stay out of the campaign as in the case of MP Sardinha after he was denied the ticket.

Resultantly, one hardly comes across members of the Old Guard in the party's scheme of things in South Goa, barring a couple of senior members, including M K Sheikh, Altinho Gomes, Beena Naik and others.

Congress senior vice-president M K Sheikh, however, explained there are no differences between the old guard and the new group in the party. “Senior members, who are part of the organisation chalk out the programme in coordination with the young leaders. Once finalised, the young party leaders descend on the ground for the implementation of the party programme,” Sheikh said.

Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao also echoed similar sentiments. He said the new and young leaders and workers are leading the party campaign for the party candidates with the blessings of the senior party members. “Decisions concerning the party are taken by the members, whether they are young or old. Once decisions are taken, the young leaders go for the implementation with blessings and support of the seniors,” Yuri said.

As electioneering for the May 7 election for the Lok sabha seat is expected to reach a feverish pitch in the next 20 days, questions are being asked in the political circles about how the Congress' Young Turks would go about ensuring the party flag continues to fly high in South Goa despite the absence of the heavyweights.

Political commentator Adv Cleofato Coutinho, however, said that the Congress party’s decision to field a new and young face -- Captain Viriato Fernandes for South Goa -- will have a big bearing on the campaign irrespective of whether the campaign is led by the young leaders or the old guard.

“The Congress has given a new and good candidate. I feel this crucial factor will override all other factors, at least in the ensuing polls. I feel the absence of the old guard or the fact that the campaign is led by young Congress leaders isn’t going to cut much ice as the Congress has given a new face before the electorate”, Adv Cleofato asserted.