The Congress party appears to have decided to engage with existing and potential allies from a position of strength. A clear message seems to be emanating from Congress chief Girish Chodankar and his team: the party will neither succumb to pressure tactics nor compromise its position as the principal Opposition party. The party has sent an invite to the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) for talks. However, a similar invitation has not gone out to Goa Forward, with Congress maintaining that the regional party had suo motu suspended alliance talks with it. Likewise, Congress has sent a clear signal to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that it will not initiate talks with a party that has publicly called for the defeat of the Congress. Wait and watch.
Yuri, Altone’s Ambelim visit sparks political buzz
It was a week when Leader of Opposition Yuribab Alemao and Congress Quepem MLA Altonebab D’Costa were spotted in the fishing village of Ambelim. Though the duo had reportedly dropped in to wish a young fisherman, political observers are now trying to decode whether the visit was purely social or carried a deeper political undertone. The timing of the visit has raised eyebrows, particularly against the backdrop of expected political changes linked to the proposed reservation of Assembly constituencies for Scheduled Tribes. Congress sources do not rule out the possibility of the party fielding Altonebab from neighbouring Velim if Quepem is reserved for the STs. Wait and watch.
Churchill, Valanka make presence felt in Navelim
Varca strongman Bab Churchill appears to have kick-started his campaign in Navelim in support of his daughter, Valanka Alemao. Though the former chief minister has publicly stated that his daughter will contest the election on a Congress ticket if given the opportunity, he appears to be keeping all options open. The father-daughter duo’s recent presence in Navelim for a football camp, health camp and eye camp suggests that Churchillbab is leaving no stone unturned to mobilise support for Valanka. And, his recent plea to Navelkars to elect Valanka to the Goa Assembly at a similar programme shows that the Alemaos are bracing up for the 2027 electorate battle irrespective of the ticket. Wait and watch.
Congress draws no-defector line, but questions remain
State Congress chief Girish Chodankar has repeatedly reiterated that the Congress will not open its doors to defectors—a clear indication that the party intends to keep its doors shut to those who have switched sides. Questions are, however, being raised in political circles over whether the Congress stand applies only to the defections witnessed in 2019 and 2022. Another question doing the rounds is whether the party would make exceptions for MLAs who had, in the past, done business with the saffron brigade by extending support to the BJP during government formation. Many questions remain unanswered.
Vijai, Amit’s camaraderie in Velsao raises eyebrows
It was a week when Goa Forward chief Vijaibab Sardesai and ex-Congress president Amitbab Patkar were in the cynosure of all eyes after they took up cudgels for the beleaguered Velsao villagers fighting the Railways for allegedly blocking their traditional access. The duo drove a bulldozer to push black metal from the private properties at Velsao and visited the Collector with the villagers days later. Outside the district Collectorate, the Vijai-Amit duo was seen discussing something, leaving many to wonder whether anything is cooking between the Goa Forward chief and the ex-Congress chief. Any takers?
