TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a case of the old versus the new, the old guard in the Congress and the young Turks perception on how the party should be run is causing run-ins and rumblings. This is underlined by the latest difference in opinion between the GPCC president, veteran Congressman, and former minister, Subash Shirodkar and the young and outspoken Curtorim Congress MLA and CLP spokesman, Reginaldo Lourenco.
The Congress has been in complete disarray and in an almost self-imposed sanyas since its complete rout in the March 2012 assembly elections and even though the promised revamp has still not happened, the young guns are chaffing at the bit, upset over the perceived mistakes of the older generation who they blame for the party losing ground so drastically. The old guard was into mining, had strong links with the establishment, and very much into maintaining the status quo, is a general feeling.
Last time, the intra-party clash was on corruption, ticket distribution and the sidelining of loyal Congressmen. People
like the former chief minister, Digambar Kamat, who was the number two when Manohar Parrikar was the chief minister the first time, and Subash Shirodkar, who was the head of the party when the illegal mining and the ticket distribution twin issues hit the party with a sledge hammer force, creating a wave that removed many of the old-timers and represent the status quo. The ticket distribution saw young Congressmen like Vijai Sardessai leave the party and get elected, while veterans like the Alemao brothers, and Narvekar lost.
This time, the clash is ostensibly over the mining NOC granted to a trading company owned by a top mining family as Reginaldo Lourenco, CLP spokesman’s response clearly defined the disconnect between the old and the new in the grand old party.
“He has his own views, we have our own views. We come from different schools,” he said, before he became more politically correct saying, “Whatever I do is without any self-interest whatsoever. It is for the people, for the state and for my constituency.”
The high command, admitting that a revamp is indeed on the cards and obliquely admitting to the old versus new went on record to say that now Rahul Gandhi is the new vice president and the number two in the party.
But, officially seeking to keep the discussion on the current topic, Sudhakar Reddy, Secretary, All India Congress Committee, argued that “The CEC is a high-powered committee of the apex court and we respect it. We will follow all the directions of the court. The matter is sub judice, so nobody should discuss it,” even while making a point that the Congress was for “legal mining and not for illegal mining.”
The divide, getting more obvious and open now, was there even earlier with a lot of rancour against the old-timers, and allegations of party workers that old-timers were not allowing the party to be built up in the constituencies that they were MLAs.
And now, the talk of the revamp and names like Reginaldo, who has become the face of the Congress in the state along with an unlikely Congressman – Sudip Tamhankar ~ and are the only seen and heard opposition. The Leader of Opposition veteran Congressman, Pratapsing Rane was last heard ~ albeit briefly during the last Assembly session.
“I have no link to mining and so have a better chance to speak,” Lourenco said, arguing “I am neutral.”
Shirodkar has interests in mining, a point highlighted by the present chief minister when he was leader of opposition.
“We are all for mining activity in Goa. Activity has to start legally in Goa. Reginaldo should have consulted us,” was Shirodkar’s view, but denied saying that he would take disciplinary action against Lourenco.
He has been quoted in sections of the media pushing for the NOC and literally following the government line.
“Asked about his own view on whether ore from other states should be transported, Shirodkar said ‘If it is legal and it is a genuine economic activity, then why not?’ and ‘Let me examine his letter and then we will call him to come and explain. Disciplinary action will be considered after ascertaining all facts.’
He even goes on to say that (to that media): “The AICC has re-emphasised the need of party discipline and this no better time to stress that no party functionary can take actions without the party’s sanction. Every action of an MLA, elected from the party, cannot be independent of the party line.”
