Congress people want winnable candidates, not those who contest to lose

PANJIM: In an indication towards the non-acceptance of former GPCC president Girish Chodankar there is a growing demand within the Goa Congress to allot tickets only to fresh faces considering their winnability factor as part of the party strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and not look at any candidate who has contested multiple times and never won.

There is increasing dissent among the party members that tickets should not be given to those who contest elections only to lose and thereby facilitate the victory of the rival party.

Currently South Goa parliamentary seat is represented by Congress MP Francisco Sardinha, unlike the North Goa seat where BJP nominee and Union Minister of State Shripad Naik, has succeeded in retaining the seat for five consecutive terms since 1999. 

Besides Sardinha, former party president Girish Chodankar who had tasted defeat in North Goa is now eyeing on South Goa Parliamentary seat. In the past, Chodankar has contested two Assembly elections unsuccessfully in both the districts, a Congress functionary said adding that he is contesting elections only to lose and facilitate the victory of the BJP candidates.

O Heraldo spoke to some of the party office-bearers, who were of the firm opinion that the High Command should implement the party’s Udaipur Chintan Shivir declaration adopted in May last year. 

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said that the party has already appointed an agency to conduct a survey to feel the pulse of the people.

The agency will also assess the mood of the workers at the ground level ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

“We will undertake this exercise well in advance and the agency will visit each and every booth level to understand the pulse of the party workers. We are considering all the factors particularly winnability as the party is seriously considering to go for the kill to win,” he said.

He said that there may be several aspirants but all will have to work for the candidate nominated by the party.

“We will have to adopt a proper strategy as we are part of the I.N.D.I.A.,” he added.

GPCC general secretary Vijay Bhike is of the opinion that the party should give tickets to those who have been loyal and not to those who have betrayed the party including those who have remained in the party and betrayed it by secretly helping the BJP.

Bhike, who is one of the aspirants for the North Goa Parliamentary seat, claims that he has been assured by the party’s top leaders that he would be given the ticket.

Former Mahila Congress president Dr Pramodini ‘Pramod’ Salgaocar said the Congress party should prioritise loyalty, public image and most importantly the winnability factor while allotting tickets.

The party should see who has a clean image and who is acceptable to all strata of society, she said.

Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa said that many may aspire for the ticket but ultimately it is the party high command that will select the candidates by considering that winnability factor.