Almost every non-BJP party has been calling for opposition unity to oust the BJP government. Yet, beneath the rhetoric of unity, each party appears busy positioning itself for the negotiations from a position of strength. Nowhere is this more evident than in the ongoing standoff between the Congress and its alliance partner, the Goa Forward Party (GFP). GFP’s decision to suspend talks with Congress may, paradoxically, have handed the latter a useful political advantage. Congress chief Girishbab Chodankar has repeatedly said that the party is waiting for Goa Forward to revoke its suspension before talks can resume. On the face of it, the message sounds conciliatory: the door is open and Congress remains willing to talk. Politically, however, the subtext is quite different. Congress is effectively signalling that it is in no hurry. And you know why.
Girish has the edge in party, but rivals aren’t giving up
Is the leadership crisis that besieged the Congress party following the appointment of Girishbab Chodankar as GPCC chief finally over? Or is the anti-Girish faction still nursing hopes that the High Command will work out a via-media solution to the leadership question, one that is acceptable to all factions within the party? For the moment, the visits to Goa, first by Congress general secretary K C Venugopal and subsequently by party national president Mallikarjun Kharge, have given a big boost to Girishbab in the ongoing leadership tussle. Still, the anti-Girish camp seemed to have not lost hope that the party leadership will work out a formula acceptable to all sections of the Congress. Any questions?
Damu’s pilgrimage initiative fuels comeback speculation
BJP State president Damubab Naik was in the thick of the action at Margao railway station earlier this week as his chartered train, carrying 1,300 pilgrims, embarked on a pilgrimage to Velankanni. The former two-time Fatorda MLA not only flagged off the special train, but was seen personally interacting with many of them. Political observers, however, are now trying to figure out the motive behind Damubab’s initiative. While he has made it clear that there is no political agenda behind his decision to charter the train, his prediction that the Lotus will also bloom in Fatorda in 2027 was enough to fuel speculation about a possible comeback. Was the pilgrimage purely a religious initiative, or is there more to Damubab’s move than meets the eye?
Radharao’s Kharge remark triggers Cong counterattack
The Congress appears to have finally decided to take political commentator Adv Radharaobab Gracias head-on. His allegation that the party leadership had got a ticket aspirant from Nuvem to pay the hotel bill of party president Mallikarjun Kharge appears to have proved the last straw. Congress leaders say that Radharaobab has never been associated with the Congress and that the party will no longer take his statements directed at the party lying down. In fact, voices emanating from within the Congress say that Radharaobab should either join the party or stop playing the role of a Director from the side lines. Any questions?
Will Capt Viriato deliver on the manifesto promise?
Has South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes finally taken charge as Chairman of the Congress Manifesto Committee constituted by the party high command? The MP had, all along, appeared to avoid formally taking charge of the responsibility entrusted to him by the party leadership. However, during Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s visit to Goa, Viriato publicly declared at the Verna Melava that he would travel to every nook and corner of the State to seek people’s inputs before preparing the draft manifesto. So, has the MP finally begun work on the task assigned to him? Wait and watch.
