THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Despite all his efforts and closeness of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president Gairish Chodankar who was desperate to get the South Goa or even the North Goa ticket, was dumped by the party.
In fact, as candidate announcement was getting delayed, Chodankar was spotted roaming around in Canacona and other places supposedly campaigning, but essentially trying to tell people that he was the chosen one.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar and leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao not only opposed his candidature, but even threatened that they will quit the party.
Chodankar even tried to use letters with digital signature written by Rahul Gandhi to heads of organisations and every State in-charges for the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyaay Yatra’ just to show that he is close to High Command, will get the ticket.
Former MLA Agnelo Fernandes said, “Happy that he (Girish Chodankar) was kept out. The party leaders realised his settings and has given ticket to a right candidate. It was because of him (Girish) that the announcement of candidates were pending for long. But he was snubbed by the High Command."
When contacted, former MLA Adv Radharao Gracias said, “No ticket has been denied to him (Girish Chodankar). It can be denied if you are entitled to it. I do not see what claim he would have for the South Goa seat. He was just trying to grab it. So the high command has probably realised that most Congress workers have made it very clear that he has no claim for South Goa seat and he is not wanted here.
"The high command, after study, has realised that the claim by Girish is false. He was trying to make personal capital without having any background or without having any support in the South Goa. At least the party has realised that merely because a person is a lackey of Rahul Gandhi is not eligible for ticket. Criteria should be he must have popularity and he must be known. The voter must accept him as their own. South Goa does not recognise Girish as its own." Adv Gracias added.
Political analyst Trajano D’Mello said, “The rejection of the conductor (Girish Chodankar) has exposed the myth of his closeness to the top brass who were fully aware how the conductor destroyed the party during the 2022 Assembly elections by doling tickets for consideration who ultimately defected. The local party leaders also played a role by exposing how he was still destroying the growth of the party. Rejecting him is the last curtain drawn over his electoral political career."
