Girish back to fish in troubled waters of the Cong he himself spoilt

PANJIM: After playing a role in rejecting power when it was knocking on Congress’ door in 2017 and then leading the Congress to defeat from the jaws of victory in 2022, the ousted former GPCC president Girish Chodankar appears to be hungry to get some importance within the party again. But voices in the party have resented such moves.

His desperate measures of late include holding press conferences outside the party office, issuing press notes on different issues, and by and large trying and get himself back in the limelight.

Some members have questioned former president Girish Chodankar’s locus standi to address media briefings when he held no position in the party.

Chodankar maintained he was not making any attempt for a comeback. “My press briefing was to expose Union Minister Smriti Irani by showing how GST number allotted to her family firm was linked to the controversial bar and restaurant at Assagao. Next time I will hold my press conference in party office.”   

But, a loyal party member and former PCC member from Salcete said, “The point is, there is a party mechanism to do this, and spokespersons and PCCs are appointed for the purpose. Addressing a press conference on an issue like this is nothing but a publicity stunt.”

These Congress members and some MLAs feel that Chodankar is trying to remain in limelight by issuing various statements in the media. 

He is trying to undermine the present president and have dominance in the party only for his political existence, they said on condition of anonymity.

There are reports that Congress functionaries close to Chodankar have withdrawn from participating in activities, and protests organised by the party. A similar strategy was adopted when former Union Minister Adv Ramakant Khalap was appointed as the chairman of the Congress Coordination Committee.

The digital membership drive had turned out to be a complete failure due to the non-cooperation of various block Congress presidents appointed by Chodankar, who had roped in a person from Delhi to conduct a membership drive. But the party’s membership could not increase, they said.

Congress MLAs who had shown loyalty to the party by deciding not to join the breakaway group are unhappy with the interference of Chodankar and may take some drastic decisions if the high command does not act and bring discipline to the party.

When contacted, GPCC president Amit Patkar denied any difference between him and Chodankar being at loggerheads. “There is nothing like that. Chodankar could not hold a briefing in the Congress House because we had a scheduled meeting. Also, Chodankar wanted to hold a media briefing at Margao and later shifted to Panjim,” he said.

The Congress campaign in the last assembly elections was mired with controversy regarding the ‘fixing of seats” and the clear lack of interest in winning under Chodankar’s leadership. This led to the party high command asking him to step down.

Therefore, his attempt to fish in troubled waters which were “troubled’ under his leadership has evoked a lot of resentment within the party.