19 Mar 2024  |   06:36am IST

Is Cong falling to BJP’s master-game in South Goa by dragging its decision on candidate?

With each passing day, the Congress is letting its advantage slip in South Goa by not announcing its candidate; is this surrender deliberate with just 47 days to go?

Team Herald

PANJIM: With ground level reports, as well as   mood on the ground clearly indicating that South Goa a seat the BJP wants to desperately   win, is going to be a very tough challenge, one would have expected the Congress   to seize this opportunity and hit the ground running.

But with just 47 days to go for polling day on May 7, the Congress in Goa is at a zero level of preparedness. 

The party which has a sitting MP in South Goa, almost   by force of habit is swimming in a sea of confusion, hesitant and almost   reluctant to name its candidate for 2024 polls. It has been unable to present credible   alternate faces too. 

And as expected, the perennial loser in   elections, who is the darling of opposition parties for making seats easy and   winnable, wants to throw his hat in any election ring and serving his party boss   for a ticket lolly-pop which will be up for sale.

Even grass-root workers of the Congress are aghast and disgusted. The Congress Central Leadership meeting that was planned to be   held on Monday in Delhi was abruptly cancelled creating unrest among the   block level workers of the Congress.

“South Goa is one seat, where the BJP itself   admits, will be extremely tough for them. So why is the Congress not announcing   it's candidate n hitting the ground running. Will they again wait till the   last moment and give it to a ticket selling conductor and give BJP a walkover?”   asked political analyst Trajano D’Mello.

A weak candidate who will contest to lose is   exactly what the BJP plans for. Moreover optical observers and analysts believe   that backing a revolutionary vote splitting party to field a candidate, is   another of BJPs aces to try and seal the South Goa seat.

The BJP too is taking its own time in   declaring their South Goa candidate. It was supposed to declare their candidates   on Monday March 18. The state BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said on Monday   evening that the decision will be arrived at within the next 24 to 48 hours.

However, the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit   Patkar said that the delay is nothing to do with confusion in finalising   candidate. 

"Since Goa is in the third phase of the election the AICC   Central committee is giving first priority to the first and second phase   names," he said. 

He may have given this statement. But convincing grass-root   party workers of its authenticity is going to be  a lot more difficult.