Team Herald
PANJIM: It is time the Congress leadership, in Goa and New Delhi, wake up to the reality if they wish to salvage some of the party’s lost glory at the next State elections. If the party wants to increase its tally of seats in the 2017 Assembly elections, the leadership has to act decisively to regain the electorate’s confidence.
It is now clear that Congress fared miserably in the 2012 elections simply because it relied on old, geriatric Congressmen without giving a chance to younger blood. It was clear at the last elections that the so-called party stalwarts had lost their shine and so it is time for new faces to take over.
With Rahul Gandhi taking centre stage at the national level, and the active role played by the younger Scindia, it did appear that young blood was being given an opportunity to guide and lead the party to new destinations. However, if one observes developments in Goa, it is quite evident that the old guard is not ready to step into the background and give others a chance. It is this that is frustrating not only younger party workers but also voters, especially young voters, who form a sizeable portion of the electorate.
It is evident that many Congress candidates, who were rejected by the electorate at the last Assembly elections, are now busy creating hype for the Congress ticket. That the Congress leadership is also leading them along is evident as otherwise these defeated candidates would not be in the spotlight.
The vote against the four members of the Alemao clan was a clear signal of ‘No’ to family raj. But will the Congress learn from this and deny tickets to family members like the Ranes? What happened to the slogan of ‘one post for one family’? The vote against Dayanand Narvekar was a clear signal that tainted politicians are not acceptable. But will Congress pay heed to this and keep away tainted politicians from the electoral fray?
If the Congress leadership does not take heed and act accordingly, it may well result in further deterioration of the party in Goa and this will reflect badly across the country. At the moment Mauvin Godinho, though a Congress MLA, is having an affair with the BJP. If Mauvin’s move to the BJP is because the old guard was stunting his growth then other young Congressmen may also opt for this route and ultimately at the crucial juncture Congress may find itself without even a candidate in some constituencies, as happened in Taleigao constituency in the past.
It is time for Congress to identify its candidates, particularly new faces. This will give the voters sufficient time to know and evaluate the candidate and also give candidates time to know the constituency and its voters along with their aspirations and frustrations.
Society is currently getting polarized. On the one hand Aam Aadmi Party is gaining ground steadily and Congress has to pull up its socks, do some hard thinking and take some quick action like sidelining tainted and defeated leaders. It is time Congress puts up new faces and maybe field sincere and genuine party workers.
