MAPUSA: Reacting to the dissolution of the Goa TMC State Executive Committee, State unit president Kiran Kandolkar, in an explosive chat with Herald said, Prashant Kishor “is the number one untrustworthy political person in India who speaks untruths”. When told about the dissolution of the state unit, he expressed surprise and said, “Look, even I didn’t know.”
Attacking the political consultancy blessed and guided by Kishor, Kandolkar said, “IPAC is to blame (for the disastrous performance of the TMC in Goa)”. He alleged that IPAC had totally failed and did not hold the TMC responsible. “My anger is with Prashant Kishor, he is the number one untrustworthy person,” he repeated.
Kiran said that certain promises were made before joining and not a single promise was fulfilled. In politics there is faith, there is nothing written. IPAC and Prashant Kishor are number one in saying false things, he said. “I don’t hold the TMC responsible. I talked to IPAC and Prashant Kishor,” he reiterated.
“I’m the president and those who were not paid such as taximen and banner and flex printers turned up at my house for payment. Prashant Kishor is not a strategy person. He never understood Goa,” Kiran alleged.
Asked whether he had quit the TMC, Kiran said, “I have not resigned. I will think about it. If things do not happen well, I will decide on my next course of action. The writing is on the wall.”
This disastrous situation has arisen in spite of TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O Brien camping in Goa and looking after party affairs. There has been a wave of resignations from the party with many office bearers having left and the Kandolkars have made it clear that they were no longer interested in taking up any leadership role.
Voices in the party as well as those who have lately exited have said that with no party in Goa, O’Brien may as well go back to his outside Goa Parliamentary role.
Asked about the dissolution of the Goa unit of TMC, Kiran said he had not been contacted. “I don’t know about the dissolution,” he confessed.
Interestingly, Khandolkar has just returned from a weeklong trip to Kolkata, to discuss the party rebuilding and organisation. He didn’t appear too happy with the outcome of the trip.
Kiran stated that when he had gone to Kolkata, he was not allowed to meet TMC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee. Instead, he had to meet the “baccha” (kid) Abhishek Banerjee, the general secretary.
Kiran also disclosed that though it was portrayed by Kishor that he was not involved in the TMC’s Goa election strategy, he met him “at least 17 times”. He also disclosed that every TMC candidate for Goa Elections 2022 was chosen by Kishor. Every strategy was of Prashant Kishor.