Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: A fresh political row erupted within Goa’s Congress circles after former Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar questioned the loyalty of sitting Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, suggesting that D’Costa had “misguided” Congress leaders and Goans while inaugurating projects sanctioned during his tenure.
Reacting sharply, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Girish Chodankar hit back at Kavlekar, branding him a “Gaddar” (traitor) for having defected to the BJP. “A man who forgets his roots and ideology, and who sold himself to the BJP while sitting as Leader of Opposition, has no moral right to question the loyalty of our MLA Altone D’Costa,” Chodankar said.
He lauded Altone D’Costa’s steadfastness, stating that the MLA has remained loyal to the Congress since his Youth Congress days and had resisted “massive offers” and “crores in inducements” to defect. “Altone refused money because his politics is driven by commitment, not greed. Loyalty is proven through consistent actions, and Altone has shown that at every step,” Chodankar asserted.
Kavlekar, who joined the BJP in 2021 after serving as Leader of Opposition in the Congress, had earlier remarked that D’Costa had “missed the bus” to join the BJP and was misleading the public by taking credit for projects sanctioned during his tenure.
The exchange marks another round of verbal sparring between Congress loyalists and defectors, underscoring the continuing rift between the old guard and those who switched allegiance to the ruling BJP.
