Has the Congress in Goa blundered by riding on absolutely false optimism and bit of gamesmanship regarding government formation? More importantly, will the failure to pull off government formation or government participation, at any cost, even by propping up a non Congress Chief Minister, dent, delay or derail, its efforts to rebuild the party?
The answer to both the above questions unfortunately, is in the affirmative. Firstly the blunder of giving the impression that government formation is only a shout away is indeed evident. The Congress has outsourced, because it does not have the “talent” to do it in house anymore. The “dream” project to topple the present government and install a Congress-led or backed one, has been handed over to Babush Monserrate, the man the expelled for anti party activities. This act itself would have been greeted with condemnation and shock, but it’s a measure of the way the party functions that even this does not evoke any surprise anymore. But let’s pause for a moment and dwell on this. Atanasio Babush Monserrate, the perennial MLA (except now) who has no perennial party inclinations, was shunted out of the Congress because he seemed to cozy up to the BJP when the previous by-elections to the Panjim seat were held when Manohar Parrikar resigned to move to the Centre. But now in less than two years, you see cars of Congressmen lined up outside Monserrate’s residence, confabulating with him. He clearly is the King and the sad part is that Congressmen are beginning to look like court jesters, but incidentally, this isn’t funny.
So the game is clear. To be politically active and have a sense of importance Monserrate will continue to give what a captain of a sinking ship believes in the most – hope. And when a ship is going down, the line between false and real hope blurs. So Shantaram Naik, the rabbit the Congress pulled out of its hat to have a GPCC President who is likely to be compliant to principle-less desperation in government formation, unlike Luizinho Faleiro, is being fed this hope, like others in the party and living with this hope, may turn out to be the most pro-active thing the Congress may end up doing in the term of this Assembly without any fruition.
Thus, in the dessert of nothingness Monserrate is a mirage. And mirages are icons of false hope. This will take a lot of time and effort away from the real challenges, the Congress faces. And they are pretty much clear but doesn’t appear to completely obvious. It needs to prepare for 2019 and not 2022 when a flash and early Assembly poll may be called. It will not have any allies then and just as well. Unlike 2017, when the anti incumbency against the BJP allowed some undeserving Congressmen a return to the Assembly, in 2019 people will demand and not merely hope for fresh faces. The search, selection and training of 40 (even if 10 to 15 percent of seats may see repeat candidates) new leaders in 40 constituencies must commence now, and this needs time, effort and planning. Above all it needs the participation of the senior leadership to pass the baton to the next generation and gradually withdraw from active election related politics.
But will that actually happen. It seems unlikely. And this is Congress’ misfortune and tragedy, that its engines are being focused on chasing a mirage when its foundations are under attack.
