ust minutes after his rally on ‘Fatorda grounds” was over, and basking in the satisfaction of addressing a rally which belied the purported despondency about the party in some quarters, Rahul Gandhi remarked to GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro ‘Faleiro Sahab, fifty percent kyon, aap 100 % new faces dijiye”
This narrative is perhaps just the tune needed for Congress’ revival song. Like an unexpected shower and without any logic or pattern, the Congress, finds that there is a clue in the embers, a glow in the debris, a resurrection which wasn’t quite the theme. And Rahul Gandhi’s rally hasn’t quite brought about this. Far from it. But the turnout, albeit due to the heavy dose of help from local satraps who sent busloads of supporters, is an indication that the old machinery is working.
Of course there are certain things that will never change. The holding of hands unity picture, frozen in time. 2020, 2007, 2012 and 2017. Apply these dates to the same picture and they will be valid. Sardinha, Senior Rane, Digambar Kamat, Subhash Shirodkar have all held hands on many stages over the years. The big ask is will be they hold their own. And a bigger ask is, are they going to be the faces of the Congress in 2017?
The Goa Congress is coy in the face of this question. Its Vice President Rahul Gandhi is clearly not. When he talks of fielding 100% fresh faces, the remark cannot be taken as flippant or non-serious And sooner than later, the Congress needs to make some decisions and start releasing names of its candidates. How it manages those on the dais who held hands with Rahul Gandhi’s plus others who were not on the dais, but are neither retired nor tired, is what will decide the course of the 2017 elections.
GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro says “We have been consistent in saying that we will look at a maximum of fresh faces. The selection process sis on and the results will soon be out. There is no looking back or compromising on this”
But will putting thought to practice be easy? Old warhorse and Goa’s senior most MLA, Pratap Singh Rane, may be giving signals to the party that he has indeed walked into the sunset. But this far from reality. Back in Poriem, they want sahib to go nowhere. Earlier this month, Junior Rane Vishwajeet, briefly explored the option of contesting from his father’s constituency Poriem next to his own one of Valpoi. The people of Poriem, with utmost respect, asked the son just to help his father win. The scourge of family raj and old faces made Congress lose in 2012. In the kingdom of the Rane’s in this neck of the woods in Satarri, it didn’t matter in 2012. It won’t matter in 2017. And by the way , it isn’t quite the case that the old warhorse is ready to retire from battle yet. Read his words to Herald carefully “I will abide by my party’s decision. If it wants I should contest the polls, I will. Being in active politics also depends on my health conditions”. Retirement, isn’t quite on his mind.
Nor is it on Ravi Naik’s mind for that matter, a man for all seasons, and for all reasons, the best being his constant urge to be Chief Minister. He dates back to the prehistoric time when Goa was not yet a state, when he was in active politics. He flexed his political muscle very proudly to Herald as he said “I have not been in elections from yesterday or today. I’ve been in politics since 1967” And then sensing he was speaking to Heraldd, quickly remarked. “We were against the merger of Goa into Maharashtra”.
Apart from these two, Subhash Shirodkar, former Education Minister, a classified veteran, isn’t willing to give way to a new face any time soon. “All eyes are set on Shiroda Contituency because People are interested to know about by how many votes Industry Minister Mahadev Naik is going to lose the Shiroda Seat”, said Shirodkar
Cut to Curtorim were Fransisco Sardinha hasn’t quite bowed out of the race party insiders claim that after his son Shalom joined the Aam Admi Party, the former Chief Minister may finally bow out. However, nothing can be said till the poll bugle has not been officially sounded.
While this gets played out, the Congress’ hope lies in backing and pushing the young faces they have indeed indentified and hoping that Rahul Gandhi’s figure of 100% new aces is closer to what the Goa Congress will deliver than not.
