Cong has none to hold fort in Navelim

Who will fill up the political void left behind in Navelim following Churchillbab’s exit from the Congress? This question has come to the fore in Navelim political circles for over a fortnight now after the Varca strongman parted ways with the Congress to embrace Mamata Didi’s Trinamool Congress. Well, many a congressman from Navelim in private admits that the Congress doors may be open for Independent MLA Avertanbab. They say that Avertanbab and his family are congressmen by heart, having worked for the Congress over the years during Luizinhbab’s tenure. But, they are also equally aware that Avertanbab cannot embrace the Congress when he is a minister in the Parrikar government. Sources say the sturdy built fisheries minister is also keeping his cards close to his chest. He has backed the BJP in the April 12 Lok Sabha poll. At the same time, he has threatened to walk out of the government the moment he comes across that the BJP is communal, thus keeping all his options open. The Congress was indeed left orphaned in Navelim in the just concluded Lok Sabha poll after Churchillbab’s sudden exit from the party. The party had to fall back on Luizinhbab and other secular minded persons to offer a semblance of fight to both the BJP and the TMC. For the moment, it’s too early to say whether Luizinhbab would make a return to Navelim politics or whether Avertanbab would embrace Congress, or, still whether the party would go in for a new leader to regain the Congress’ lost glory in Navelim. Only time will tell.