TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The Congress kick starts its campaign to retain the South Goa seat with a workers rally at the Lohia Maidan on Tuesday, but the party leadership is facing an acid test to bring all party MLAs and heavyweights under one banner in support of its candidate ahead of the April 12 polls.
While the district Congress leadership is busy preoccupied in galvanising block presidents and other leaders to mobilise workers – around 5000 to be precise for the rally — questions are raised in Congress circles whether the party leadership would be able to get the heavyweights and MLAs share the dais and put up a united front in front of the workers and the electorate in general.
This question assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that one has not seen the MLAs and party heavyweights sharing a common dais since the last two years. Last month PCC meeting held at Margao attended by AICC General Secretary Digvijai Singh is a case in point. South Goa MLAs including Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho were conspicuous by their absence. Besides, many a heavyweight, including the Alemao brothers, comprising of Churchill-Joaquim duo, were absent at the meeting.
A senior party leader from down South said the responsibility lies on the party leadership to ensure that all leaders make their presence felt at the Tuesday rally. “The mere presence of the heavyweights and the MLAs would be enough to send the right signals to the demoralised rank and file, and to the voters alike that the Congress is a united lot. This will further help to dispel the notion that the Congress is a divided house,” remarked the Congress leader.
Sources in the Congress say that PCC President John Fernandes has been in touch with the leaders to ensure they keep a date with Lohia Maidan on Tuesday. Initially, the Congress leadership had planned the rally during the weekend, but it was postponed to Tuesday as Margao MLA Digambar had gone out of station. It is learnt that the John is trying to rope in a central leader for the Tuesday rally to send the right message to the local leaders that the party means business.
Interestingly, many a Congress leader from down South have not yet reconciled with Sardinha’s candidature, saying a new face would have kept the party in good stead against the BJP. “No doubt, the party will have no choice than to finally accept Sardinha to take on the BJP, but a new face would have certainly helped give a boost to the party campaign to retain the seat,” remarked a leader, who was defeated in the 2012 Assembly election.
The sitting Lok Sabha MP from South Goa has kicked off his election campaign from his home village Maina-Curtorim. Sources said though the party is yet to finalise the ticket for South Goa, Sardinha is believed to have strongly rooted for the Tuesday rally to galvanise the party rank and file ahead of the polls.
Congress believes that the mere presence of the heavyweights and the MLAs at the rally6 would be enough to send the right signals to the demoralised rank and file
