Digvijay Singh defies party, stalls Cong decision of ‘no alliance’ till last day

PANJIM: AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh, the architect of chaos and confusion in the Goa Congress, made a desperate attempt, and succeeded in stalling the announcement of names of Congress candidates in three seats where Goa Forward has fielded candidates – Fatorda, Saligao and Siolim. With the last day for filing of nominations less than 24 hours away, Singh defying his own high command, left the door open for a back door deal with Goa Forward.

It is Digvijay Singh, backed by Digambar Kamat and Pratapsingh Rane, who are still battling for an alliance with Goa Forward by not fielding Congress candidates there. The lone ranger who is insisting on Congress fielding candidates in these seats, as cleared by AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi is Dr A Chella Kumar, AICC secretary in-charge of Goa, with GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro in tune with this.

“We are not going into any alliance with any political party but going for a strategic seat adjustment and that also subject to the discussions with the leadership of Congress party in Goa,” Singh told reporters on Tuesday. “Wherever we don’t have a viable candidate, we are looking at candidate who can defeat BJP,” he said. 

This statement itself is bereft of the truth because the Congress has already finalised 39 candidates, leaving Panjim for Babush Monserrate of United Goans. They have finalised Agnelo Fernandes for Saligao (and not Tulio D’Souza), Joseph Silva in Fatorda and the son of veteran Congressman, Chandrakant Chodankar from Siolim.

Within the confines of the Mandovi Hotel, which has turned into an internal battle ground of the Congress, sparks flew from late Monday night through Tuesday. On Monday, there was a clear showdown between Faleiro and Singh where Faleiro confronted him on the issue of he bending down to the diktats of Messers Kamat and Rane. It is learnt that Faleiro said that if he was the PCC chief and built the party when Kamat and Rane were nowhere in sight, why was the sentiment of the blocks for not going in for an alliance not being respected.

This deadlock raised tensions in the constituencies as Congress candidates, Silva and Fernandes (cleared for Saligao after Calangute went to Joseph Sequeira) waited for the all important B form which formally endorses the candidate as a party nominee. Fernandes was asked to file his nomination and as he was preparing to leave he received a call asking to hold on before a final clearance was given.

It is reliably learnt that the high command, which is opposing any alliance, may concede the Fatorda seat, but Singh has allowed the deadlock to persist over Velim where Goa Forward is insisting on Congress withdrawing its candidate Felipe Neri Rodrigues, which the Congress has so far refused, and in Siolim where the Goa Forward doesn’t want the Congress to have a candidate.

In yet another departure from the AICC high command line, Singh also said that the seat adjustment formula will continue even post poll. “When we are together to defeat BJP on ideological basis and on the basis of mis-governance, then obviously that will continue post poll also,” he stated. 

With time running out, Singh has pushed the Congress to the brink of not just embarrassment but very serious consequences of facing anger and revolt, a bit of it was already witnessed as angry members of the Congress’ Fatorda block, turned up at the Congress office and erupted in anger telling Singh that Silva will be fielded and backed by the Fatorda Block Congress, if the party has an alliance with Goa Forward.