TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: AICC general secretary Luizinho Faleiro and his group virtually return back to the Congress centre stage in Salcete’s political landscape with Churchill Alemao quitting the party and another stalwart Francisco Sardinha relegated to the background.
Churchill Alemao’s decision to sever ties with the Congress may not sound news Congressmen from Salcete, having seen his tantrums in the past. But, his decision to move out of the Congress, with Sardinha lying in the cold after receiving a raw deal from the Congress leadership, might create vacuum within the Salcete Congress.
This emerging development has virtually given the Luizinho group an upper hand in Salcete politics, and may raise up the question of effective checks and balances within the party, with most of the party heavyweights — Digambar Kamat, Alexio Sequeira, Joaquim Alemao and Filipe Neri Rodrigues – confining themselves within the territorial boundaries of their constituencies.
Congress Party insiders concede in private that it will take some time for the party leadership to fill up vacuum left behind by both Churchill and Sardinha since they enjoyed considerable influence not only in their home constituencies, but beyond their political boundaries.
In fact, Congress politics in Salcete had for too long been centred around Luizinho, Churchill and Sardinha. If both Luizinho and Sardinha were perceived as the dominant force in Salcete’s political landscape in the 80’s, Churchill carved a niche for himself in the political firmament, endearing himself to the common man in his inimitable style. In fact, if the Luzinho-Sardiha duo had a running battle in the 80’s, the Luizinho-Churchill face off had dominated Salcete’s politics throughout the 90’s.
In the last decade, Churchill had a strong ally in Vijai Sardesai, who together had taken on the might of both Luizinho and Sardinha and their close aides such as Girish Chodankar and others.
The rout of the Alemaos and other Salcete stalwarts had given the Luizinho group an upper hand within the party elevating the former Chief Minister as the AICC general secretary. The appointment of Girish Chodankar as NSUI chief and secretary to Rahul Gandhi further established their foothold in the party scheme of things in Delhi, much to the chagrin of their detractors back home in Goa. In fact, the Luizinho-Girish combine today call the shots in the party, having carved themselves a place close to the Gandhi family.
Says political analyst, Adv Cleofato Coutinho: “It is a fact that Luizinho factor will now play a major role in Congress Salcete politics with Churchill moving out of the party. The party may feel a vacuum for some time. But, I am confident that the void will be filled up with a new and young emerging leadership waiting in the wings to take charge of the party. A victory in the Lok sabha poll may bring the Reginaldo-Vijai combine to the centre of Salcete politics within the Congress”.
The anti-Churchill and anti-Sardinha forces within Salcete Congress – which had in the past not seen to eye on the leadership issue given the inherent contradictions – is expected to hang on to their new found friendship. But, the real test of this new found love and friendship will be known post May 16 – when the Lok Sabha poll result, which will define new political contours within the Congress in political significant Salcete.
