Almost a week has passed for the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls in the country but shockingly, the Congress, which is vying to regain power after two consecutive defeats in 2014 and 2019, is yet to kick-start its camapign for 2024 polls.
In Goa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already named its two candidates – Shripad Naik for North Goa and Industrialist Pallavi Dempo for South Goa. There was a slight delay in naming the South Goa candidate but still the BJP has beaten the Congress in the naming of candidate for South Goa.
Infact, the BJP seems to have won the first battle against the Congress.
As per the I.N.D.I Alliance agreement Congress will fight both the seats and the Aam Aadmi Party and Goa Forward will support the grand old party.
However, the alliance partners too are confused about the naming of candidate as they do not ahve any say in it and it is Congress’ job. But when? asks a alliance partner.
AAP party chief in Goa Amit Palekar has already said the delay will only make things harder for the party to endorse INDI alliance symbol.
Patkar, Alemao, Altone in Delhi…
After BJP named Pallavi Dempo as South Goa candidate, the Congress called the top three leaders GPCC president Amit Patkar, LoP Yuri Alemao and South Goa campaign incharge Altone D’Costa to Delhi on Sunday.
However, there has been no outcome of the meeting so far.
What is the reason for delay…
The BJP has alleged that the Congress do not have candidates to be fielded from both North or South Goa.
Although, the Congress has a seating MP in Francisco Sardinha from South Goa, the party office-bearers have shown little interest in him so far.
Insiders, say the party is concentrating more on South and the fight seems to be between Capt Viriato Fernandes and AICC leader Girish Chodankar, who is the close confidante of Rahul Gandhi.
Sources also reveal that there are too many aspirants and the pressure exerted by MLAs and senior party leaders to secure tickets has delayed the announcement of Congress final list for the Lok Sabha elections.
The selection of the candidate for the South Goa seat has become a bone of contention.
Party, alliance partners workers anxious…
The delay seems to be only making matters worse for the Congress and the alliance partner workers as they are yet to kick-start the campaign.
The workers feel, there is very little time left to cover the ground, which can only be done after the candidates are named.
The party workers are also upset that there may be a last minute compromise and non-deserving candidates would get the tickets.
The fight is against Modi, Shah…
The Congress has been out of power at the Centre since 2014 and 2012 in Goa and they quite know that it is not easy to win elections against the BJP duo of PM narendra Modi and Amit Shah, who have studies the pulse of all 454 constituencies in the country.
To fight the might of Modi-Shah, the Congress had to be well prepared for the elections and not scrambling for names of candidates till the last day of nomination.
Of course, there is anti-incumbancy but the question is whether the Congress will be able to take advantage of the same by giving good candidates at the right time only time will tell.