PANJIM: The rejection of a grand attempt with such emphasis is perhaps the most certain unified thing the Congress has done in the recent past. The isolation of Valpoi was complete. But it wasn’t splendid. The Valpoi block under the tutelage of Junior Rane (Vishwajit) stood out, almost like a sore thumb as other block committees, opposed a grand alliance (essentially with the Goa Forward and other individuals) and go it alone in 2017.
However the GPCC, kept ample room for changes and negotiations. In true Congress fashion the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) kept speculation on the issue alive by declaring that the decision on an alliance would be taken by September 30. GPCC, however, is of the view that all like-minded secular forces should unite under its leadership.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Faleiro said that like the former UPA government at the Centre, Congress would like to form a strong government in Goa uniting with like-minded secular forces under its leadership. “Goa being a small State needs unity of like-minded secular forces. Those who want a better and stable government should join hands and come under Congress. Under Congress leadership elections should be fought,” he stated.
The block committees, representing 37 of the 40 constituencies, were against a grand alliance at a party workers’ meeting on Monday evening. The Valpoi block committee – the constituency represented by former Health Minister Vishwajit Rane – was the only one that favoured an alliance. However, they were strongly criticized by the other blocks. Two blocks, Poriem and Margao refrained from taking a stand.
Rane, who was the first person to publicly pitch for a grand alliance, did not attend the election strategy meeting. None of the other grand alliance backers Vishwajit Rane, Digambar Kamat, Jennifer Monserrate did either. Fellow grand alliance supporter Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, though initially present, later walked out. The Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, maintained a studied silence in the wake of a barrage of criticism against his son. He however displayed tacit support to his scion, as the block representing his constituency Poriem, refrained from expressing their views along with Margao, Digambar Kamat’s constituency. The meeting was attended by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Suraj Hegde.
During the three-and-a-half hour meeting, several block committees spoke of candidates for the respective constituencies, which included Navelim block hinting at party president and former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro’s candidature from the constituency.
Refusing to come to a closure on the alliance, Faleiro said that by September 30, the Pradesh Congress Committee will decide whether it wants a grand alliance. “My mission is to win the election with unity of secular forces under Congress,” he stated.
Fearing toppling moves by the Narendra Modi government like those in Uttaranchal and Arunachal Pradesh, Congress in Faleiro is aiming big.“You saw what BJP tried to do in Uttaranchal and Arunachal Pradesh… murder of democracy and Constitution of India. In Goa, if we don’t manage to win the maximum seats, then here too they can topple the government. To bring in a stable government we need more and more seats,” he said.
Faleiro also claimed that Congress lost the 2012 elections because it went on distributing tickets to alliance partners and as a result, the party base in those areas weakened.
It’s clear that, though the Congress is not spelling this out explicitly, if they don’t contest maximum sets, their chances of having their own MLAs drastically reduces.
Fatorda MLA and the Goa Forward’s de-facto boss Vijai Sardesai, maintains that the story is not quite over. Asked for his reaction to the majority of block committees rejecting the grand alliance he quipped, “This was not unexpected, but as they say ‘picture abhi baaki hain dost” (the film is not over, my friend).
